les include ensuring fair wage and job security for outsourced workers (Who were hired via the contractors), fund raising from exporters for welfare of the workers and execution of appropriate legal measures to prevent violence on workplace. The state minister said the government in association with the factory owners and leaders of labour unions has implemented 15 conditions set by the US during the last couple of years to retain the Generalised scheme of preferences (GSP) facility. “The remaining condition is the enactment of a pro-labor guideline in light of the labour law and recommendations from the International Labour Organisation and US Trade Representative. The factory owners, labor leaders and government—all have already reached a consensus on the proposed rules. We are now expecting completion of vetting by law ministry by June to complete the implementation,” Haque said. The US had suspended the GSP facility for Bangladesh on the grounds of poor compliance on labour safety and working environment at factories following the Rana Plaza collapse in 2013 and imposed some 16 conditions for reinstatement of the GSP benefits. The state minister said all the stakeholders have agreed to raise fund from exporters for welfare of the workers in RMG and other sectors. “Every exporter will contribute 0.3 percent of respective export income to the welfare fund,” he said. He said the custodian of the fund is yet to be decided and another consultative meeting will be needed to determine the fund manager. “We may form a board consisting representatives from all the stakeholders to collect and operate the fund,” Mujibul Haque Chunnu said. The US earlier expressed satisfaction over the progress the government made during last couple of years, especially with regard to fulfilling conditions set by the US government to revive the GSP facility. In a statement in April this year, US Trade Representative Michael B.G. Froman said Bangladesh needs more to do to ensure workers’ safety at workplace. Haque said, “We have been praised for what we have done meantime. But, we also were being advocated to do more. What does ‘more’ mean? It should be specified.” Bangladesh, a signatory of Trade and Investment Cooperation Framework Agreement (TICFA) with the US, has been eagerly looking for reinstatement of the GSP facility to raise exports to the US market. Commerce Minister Tofael Ahmed, while speaking at public program last week, said “What is the use of TICFA if the GSP is not revived?” The Rana Plaza Collapse was a biggest factory disaster that killed over 1100 workers and injured hundreds more. The US, the European Union, and the international community including big retailers have joined together to press the government of Bangladesh initiate major reforms in the apparel sector to prevent recurrence of any accident like the Rana Plaza disaster. They also have been working with the government of Bangladesh toimprove workers’ safety.
Friday, May 15, 2015
Govt may fulfil all conditions by June:Daily Sun
les include ensuring fair wage and job security for outsourced workers (Who were hired via the contractors), fund raising from exporters for welfare of the workers and execution of appropriate legal measures to prevent violence on workplace. The state minister said the government in association with the factory owners and leaders of labour unions has implemented 15 conditions set by the US during the last couple of years to retain the Generalised scheme of preferences (GSP) facility. “The remaining condition is the enactment of a pro-labor guideline in light of the labour law and recommendations from the International Labour Organisation and US Trade Representative. The factory owners, labor leaders and government—all have already reached a consensus on the proposed rules. We are now expecting completion of vetting by law ministry by June to complete the implementation,” Haque said. The US had suspended the GSP facility for Bangladesh on the grounds of poor compliance on labour safety and working environment at factories following the Rana Plaza collapse in 2013 and imposed some 16 conditions for reinstatement of the GSP benefits. The state minister said all the stakeholders have agreed to raise fund from exporters for welfare of the workers in RMG and other sectors. “Every exporter will contribute 0.3 percent of respective export income to the welfare fund,” he said. He said the custodian of the fund is yet to be decided and another consultative meeting will be needed to determine the fund manager. “We may form a board consisting representatives from all the stakeholders to collect and operate the fund,” Mujibul Haque Chunnu said. The US earlier expressed satisfaction over the progress the government made during last couple of years, especially with regard to fulfilling conditions set by the US government to revive the GSP facility. In a statement in April this year, US Trade Representative Michael B.G. Froman said Bangladesh needs more to do to ensure workers’ safety at workplace. Haque said, “We have been praised for what we have done meantime. But, we also were being advocated to do more. What does ‘more’ mean? It should be specified.” Bangladesh, a signatory of Trade and Investment Cooperation Framework Agreement (TICFA) with the US, has been eagerly looking for reinstatement of the GSP facility to raise exports to the US market. Commerce Minister Tofael Ahmed, while speaking at public program last week, said “What is the use of TICFA if the GSP is not revived?” The Rana Plaza Collapse was a biggest factory disaster that killed over 1100 workers and injured hundreds more. The US, the European Union, and the international community including big retailers have joined together to press the government of Bangladesh initiate major reforms in the apparel sector to prevent recurrence of any accident like the Rana Plaza disaster. They also have been working with the government of Bangladesh toimprove workers’ safety.
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