Editorial
EU action plan heralds new hope
We must live up to it
UNLIKE the step by the US authorities to suspend Bangladesh from its preferential list of exporters under GSP programme, the EU have decided stand by us. In a recently launched initiative from Geneva, the EU, ILO and Bangladesh government have reached a tripartite agreement titled Global Sustainability Compact. This envisages improvements in terms of labour rights, their working conditions and factory safety, especially in the RMG sector.
The initiative sets a nine-month deadline for Bangladesh to improve building and fire safety conditions in the RMG factories by June 2014.
The deadline, though somewhat tight, places a challenge before us. To live up to the EU's offer of assistance which is important to the implementation package, all concerned must strive to meet the deadline.
Bangladesh will also have to reform its existing labour law to strengthen workers' rights, particularly through ensuring their freedom of association, right to collective bargaining and improving their occupational health and safety. To ensure effective enforcement of the law, ILO has agreed to monitor the progress.
This course of action promises to beef up the country's highest foreign exchange earning sector and welfare of its precious workforce.
In addition to the tripartite initiative, 70 international retailers, mainly of EU origin, have also signed an accord to inspect building and fire safety standards in the RMG units that supply them apparel products.
We believe the international moves from Geneva provide a rare opportunity before the government and the RMG units owners to improve their image and status.
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