The commerce ministry will send two separate letters to the US Congress and the USTR Ambassador this week in reply to a letter from six US congressmen over alleged harassment on workers and the recent review report of the USTR that cited shortcomings in implementation of the Action Plan for retaining GSP facility. “We will send a letter to the US Congress seeking more explanation of the letter s
ent by the congressmen. Another letter will be sent to USTR Ambassador Michael Froman in reply to the review report as well for inviting them to visit Bangladesh to inspect the real situation here” Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed said. Tofail Ahmed revealed the government’s next course of action over the GSP issue while addressing a press briefing after holding a meeting with US Ambassador Dan W Mozena at his office Monday afternoon. Terming the congressmen’ letter a political one, Tofail said “The letter of the congressmen did not reflect the real picture of working environment and workers’ rights here. Their letter shows a intention to interfere in Bangladesh’s internal affairs, which is not decent practice” “Rather the USTR’s letter bears a touch of reality and Ambassador Froman thinks a bit positive than the US congressmen,” he added. Mentioning that the teams of ACCORD, ALLAINCE and ILO have already inspected a total of 1500 factories, he informed that all other RMG factories will be inspected by December this year. The minister said the Monday’s cabinet meeting has decided that trade unions will be allowed in the Export Processing Zones (EPZ). “The US gives neither duty-free quota-free market access nor GSP facility to our RMG products. But still in the last 5 years, we paid them duty worth $3.41 billion. They provide us with preferential facility to some products like plastic, ceramic, tobacco and furniture. Though they provide no facility for the RMG sector, they are much concerned about this sector,” the minister observed. Tofail still “The revival of GSP is a matter of prestige, so we have been very cordial to fulfill all the conditions to get back the trade facility.” Regarding meeting with the US ambassador, Tofail said it was routine meeting. “They have given us some conditions and we have fulfilled almost all the conditions. The remaining one about trade unions at the EPZs has also been decided at today’s cabinet meeting,” the commerce minister said. He said although the Rana Plaza and Tajreen Fashion incidents were the worst tragedies for the country’s industrial sector, those were wake up calls for the RMG sector—even the US congressmen have admitted this fact. “These two incidences have led us to start working to ensure better workers’ safety, building safety, workers rights, and fire safety, which will tremendously help to turn the RMG sector into a world-class industry,” he added. Emerging from the meeting, US Ambassador Dan W Mozena told media that although Bangladesh has made remarkable progress in implementing the action plan, still there are many things to do to regain the GSP facility. He said during the meeting, they discussed issues related to obstacles to appointing inspectors in RMG factories, popularizing the recently launched publicly-accessible database for RMG sector, enacting the implementing rules for labor reform legislation and bringing the Export Processing Zones under the labor law. “I emphasized that unfair labor practices, most especially crackdown on labor activists, are not acceptable and must stop immediately,” Mozena said. Mentioning that that the review process for restoration of Bangladesh’s GSP privilege is a driving force of change, Mozena said the Action Plan is a road map for transforming Bangladesh’s apparel sector. He noted that July 8 marks the one year anniversary of the Sustainability Compact between Bangladesh, the US and the EU in association with the International Labor Organisation (ILO) that incorporates many elements of the Action Plan. “During the meeting, I reiterated the United State’s support for this transformation through diplomatic engagement, through USAID and the Department of Labor, and with strong congressional support, including a $5 Million earmark for garment sector project”, he added. Newly joined Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Hedayetullah Al-Mamun, and DG- WTO Cell of the Ministry Amitava Chakravarty were also present during the meeting.
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