Roadmap to Regaining GSP
Govt to step up factory watch
Four inspectors appointed, another 23 to be recruited
Appointment of 23 factory inspectors is underway as part of the roadmap for regaining the GSP status in the US market.
The move followed the Obama administration's suspension of the trade benefit on June 27 over poor labour rights and working conditions.
The labour and employment ministry has already appointed four inspectors to fulfil the US government's conditions for reinstatement of the privilege. The conditions were published on Friday by the USTR (United States Trade Representative).
At the moment, only 51 inspectors are tasked with overseeing more than 2 lakh factories across the country.
The labour and employment ministry has already requested the Public Service Commission to start recruiting inspectors against the existing 39 vacant posts, said the Bangladesh government's action plan.
Bangladesh has also agreed to create a publicly accessible database of all readymade garment factories as a platform for reporting labour, fire and building inspections.
Regarding information about factories and their locations, violations, fines, sanctions and factory relocations, the plan said such measures would be taken under the Compact agreement, which was signed in Geneva on July 8.
A hotline for fire alert is already in place at the department of fire service and civil defence, it added.
Bangladesh also reformed the labour law on July 15, to address key concerns related to freedom of association and collective bargaining at factories.
Regarding registration of unions, the action plan said “some progress has been made” and that the labour ministry should take care of this matter.
Also to fulfil the US conditions, the home ministry has withdrawn all criminal charges against labour leaders Babul Akter and Kalpana Akter.
Under the conditions, the social welfare ministry may give registration to the Bangladesh Centre for Worker Solidarity and allow Social Activities for the Environment to continue its activities.
The home ministry will investigate the murder of labour leader Aminul Islam.
“We have agreed to take the initiatives under the Compact” regarding ensuring the protection of EPZ workers' freedom of association until the EPZ law has been repealed or overhauled, said the plan.
Also, a project is in progress to actively support the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and other workers and employers in the shrimp sector.
“We started preparing the action plan after the verdict of the hearing [on June 27],” Commerce Minister GM Quader told The Daily Star yesterday.
“We will publish our final matrix by this week.”
The minister said the matrix would be verified periodically to measure the progress of the ministries concerned so that the GSP status could be regained at the earliest.
A hotline for fire alert is already in place at the department of fire service and civil defence, it added.
Bangladesh also reformed the labour law on July 15, to address key concerns related to freedom of association and collective bargaining at factories.
Regarding registration of unions, the action plan said “some progress has been made” and that the labour ministry should take care of this matter.
Also to fulfil the US conditions, the home ministry has withdrawn all criminal charges against labour leaders Babul Akter and Kalpana Akter.
Under the conditions, the social welfare ministry may give registration to the Bangladesh Centre for Worker Solidarity and allow Social Activities for the Environment to continue its activities.
The home ministry will investigate the murder of labour leader Aminul Islam.
“We have agreed to take the initiatives under the Compact” regarding ensuring the protection of EPZ workers' freedom of association until the EPZ law has been repealed or overhauled, said the plan.
Also, a project is in progress to actively support the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and other workers and employers in the shrimp sector.
“We started preparing the action plan after the verdict of the hearing [on June 27],” Commerce Minister GM Quader told The Daily Star yesterday.
“We will publish our final matrix by this week.”
The minister said the matrix would be verified periodically to measure the progress of the ministries concerned so that the GSP status could be regained at the earliest.
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