EPZ trade unions

The US, for its part, has reciprocated by cancelling the GSP withdrawal process relating to Bangladesh. That amounts to recognition of the efforts being made by our government to establish the rights of workers. Now, we can logically expect that the positive attitude of the US would be translated into concrete steps to help our garment industry expand further. It may not be out of context to mention here that some Caribbean and African countries were given special concessions for boosting their garment exports. Bangladesh would hopefully now be considered favourably for grant of such concessions.

The US and other developed countries should take a positive view of the efforts we are making in other areas for complying with international standards. For example, efforts are on to eliminate child labour, considered an anathema to the modern concept of industrial labour.

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The point that the importers of our products need to consider is that our reform regime compares well with the reform processes in other parts of the developing world. We urge the US authorities to appreciate the fact which is actually a reliable indicator of what the countries are doing to improve working conditions and other related matters for the workers.

It must also be noted that trade union related voting has taken place in 34 out of 208 industrial units in the EPZs since the government took the decision to allow trade union rights. The progress is quite satisfactory.

There is ample scope for increasing US investment here and breaking new grounds for strengthening trade ties between the two countries. Bangladesh is keen to go by the rules and take such steps as will give industrial relations and working conditions a more humane face. For obvious reasons, therefore, we look forward to increasing US assistance in terms of bilateral trade and investments.