Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) – The Bangladesh government must dramatically increase efforts to create a safe and sustainable garment industry, says IndustriALL Global Union in the wake of a damning evaluation of the Sustainability Compact.
The Compact was signed a year ago between the ILO, EU and Bangladesh government after the Rana Plaza disaster that killed over 1,100 factory workers. With it, Bangladesh committed to widespread reforms on protection of labour rights, fire and building safety and corporate responsibility.
A joint evaluation of the Compact by IndustriALL, UNI Global Union and ITUC has found the Bangladesh government has largely failed to implement the Compact, despite substantial financial and technical support from a number of foreign governments and the ILO.
“We remain determined to make this industry safe and sustainable but we need to see more action from the government, with the rights to freedom of association upheld,” Jyrki Raina, IndustriALL’s general secretary, said in a statement.
He also said the evaluation found that the inability of workers to organize and bargain collectively over the terms and conditions of work meant that gains in building and fire safety would not be sustainable, leading to further tragedies.
Alarmingly, the attitude of the government towards unions seems to be only deteriorating, the IndustriALL’s general secretary noted.
BBN/SSR/AD-18July14-8:42 pm (BST)
