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View All NewsBangladesh – EU calls for measure to ensure effective labour law enforcement
The European Union yesterday pressed for urgent measures to be taken to ensure effective enforcement of Bangladesh’s Labour Laws to safeguard labour rights and standards, reports The Financial Express Bangladesh.
The EU’s comments stem from a meeting on the Bangladesh Sustainability Compact, held in Brussels a year after the signing of an agreement to review the progress made in the country's ready-made garment (RMG) industry.
The compact with the EU, which accounts for approximately 60% of Bangladesh’s total exports, was signed in July 2013 following the collapse an eight storey commercial building on 24 April 2013, which killed 1,129 workers. Following the collapse, which was the result of the unlawful construction of eight storeys instead of the five that the construction company had permission to build, Bangladesh pledged to improve labour rights and health and safety conditions for workers as well as to encourage responsible behaviour by businesses in the RMG industry within a specific period.
"There has been much progress since then: labour law has been amended to strengthen freedom of association, collective bargaining and occupational health and safety; new trade unions have been created; more labour, and fire and building safety inspections have been carried out," a statement issued by the EU said, quoting its Commissioner for Employment Laszlo Andor.
"These are encouraging steps, but we need to advance further. Measures need to be taken urgently to ensure effective enforcement of the Bangladesh Labour Law. Issues requiring particular attention include: better guarantees for freedom of association, protection of workers and trade unions from intimidation or discrimination, and ensuring that all workers have the same rights, including those working in the Export Processing Zones," he added.
He further called for recruiting additional inspectors, and continuation of the garment factory inspections: "And we need to ensure that victims of the collapse receive all the support necessary for their rehabilitation. We need to continue monitoring the implementation and results of the Compact," he said, adding that a future review will be held next year.
The European Commission remains fully committed to pursuing its intense cooperation with the Compact partners to achieve further tangible improvements, Mr Andor said: "I am convinced that, working together, we can achieve further progress by then."
When contacted, a senior labour ministry official said, they need more discussion, as many stakeholders are involved in formulating the rules on labour law: "It might take two more months to finalise the draft of the rules.”