Trackback URL
Download PDF Dhaka presented its firm position at the first hearing on Generalised System of Preference (GSP) facilities for Bangladeshi products at the US Trade Representative’s (USTR) office in Washington saying that it provides and protects maximum labour rights in all the industries.
“Bangladesh fully recognises that improving the lives of its workforce and safeguarding their labour rights are mutually reinforcing objectives in building a modern nation,” said M Humayun Kabir, Bangladesh ambassador to US.
Humayun sought assistance from the international community to enhance capacity to further improve labour rights situation in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh embassy in Washington in a press release said the hearing is the beginning of a year-long review process that will examine verbal and written submissions and testimonies by all parties as well as determine the actual progress on the ground to come to a conclusion on an appeal by a US rights group for withdrawal of the GSP facilities for Bangladesh.
Ms Marideth Joy Sandler, executive director of GSP programme at the USTR, chaired the hearing.
Mr Jeffrey Vogt, global economic specialist of the rights body American Federation of Labour and Congress of Industrial Organisations (AFL-CIO), in defence of their petition highlighted the violations of labour rights in the export processing zones (EPZs), in ready made garment (RMG) and shrimp industries in Bangladesh.
Vogt recognised that some progress has been made in recent years but said the progress was still unsatisfactory.
He suggested that more aggressive reforms are needed to protect labour rights in Bangladesh.
In response to specific queries about their objective in filing the petition, he said they want Bangladesh government to accord more priorities to ensure that labour rights, as recognised in the international community, are respected in Bangladesh.
At the hearing, Brig Gen Ashraf Abdullah Yusuf, executive chairman of Bangladesh Export Processing Zones (Bepza), Syed Mahmudul Huq, chairman of Bangladesh Shrimp and Fish Foundation and Shabbir Ahmed Chowdhury, adviser of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) in Washington, also testified before the Trade Policy Staff of the USTR
The AFL-CIO made the appeal alleging that Bangladesh does not allow labour rights in its EPZs.
The BGMEA, Bepza, Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association and Bangladesh Frozen Food Exporters Association protested the allegation.
Different labour organisations under the banner of Bangladesh Garments Workers Union Council (BGWUC) also raised voice against the complaint.
The AFL-CIO made four complaints in its petition. These include violation of domestic and internationally recognised workers’ rights in the EPZs in Bangladesah, violation of domestic labour laws and internationally recognised labour standards in RMG industry, similar violations in shrimp and fish processing industries, and violent actions by government security forces against trade unionists, workers and labour rights groups.
October 6th, 2007 at 9:14 am
[...] Dhaka presents firm position on labour rights that it provides and protects maximum labour rights in all the industries. Bangladesh fully… reinforcing objectives in building a modern nation, said M Humayun Kabir, Bangladesh ambassador to US… improve labour rights situation in Bangladesh. Bangladesh embassy in Washington in a press release… for Bangladesh. Ms Marideth Joy Sandler, executive director of GSP programme at the USTR, chaired…) and shrimp industries in Bangladesh. Vogt recognised that some progress has been made in recent [...]