The European Union (EU) has set Bangladesh a tight time limit to address longstanding issues concerning human rights and good governance in factories.
The political and economic bloc of Europe said Bangladesh must submit in writing by January 02 a draft roadmap for addressing the issues that include amendment of the labour law and the EPZ (export processing zone) labour law.
The time-limit has been set by the 28-member EU, as its high-powered delegation that visited Bangladesh in October last found slow progress in addressing the issues.
The team consisting of EBA (Everything But Arms) monitoring officials had expressed serious "concerns" over other issues of eliminating child labour, stopping violence against workers and ratifying the ILO (International Labour Organization) convention on minimum age and protocol of 2014.
"Bangladesh must finalise the roadmap by February 2020," according to a letter sent to the Ministry of Commerce (MoC).
"We're at a critical juncture and decisive steps are needed urgently in respect of human and labour rights upon which the EU's EBA preferences are conditional." according to the letter, seen by The Financial Express (FE) recently.
The letter said the European Parliament's Committee on International Trade in its November meeting had shown keen interest in "effectiveness" of the GSP (generalised system of preference) regulation, particularly in terms of compliance with the core conventions on human rights and labour rights in return for the EU's generous tariff preference.
The EU also said the country must conduct labour law reforms through tripartite consultation and with technical assistance of Rome-based ILO (International Labour Organisation).
Experts familiar with the matter told the FE that Bangladesh should meet the time-bound compliance, otherwise it may impact the country's shipment to Europe, especially to the 28-nation EU bloc where Bangladesh exports more than 10 per cent of its total RMG shipments.
Rizwanul Islam, a former special adviser on employment sector at the ILO, told the FE that application of labour laws in EPZs is not only the demand of the EU, the ILO has also been asking Bangladesh to ensure their application in the EPZs in a uniform manner.
"The government kept dragging feet until the ILO issued requests for information and gave a final deadline," Mr Islam said.
It is learnt that the government of Bangladesh had assured the companies in the country's eight export processing zones that there would be no bargaining agencies. And the EPZ labour law has also the relevant sections on such issues.
Mr Islam said the government had faced questions from the ILO's supervisory mechanism on this matter, and at a stage the government was given a time limit within which clear answers and steps were requested.
"At that point, the government did take some steps to relax the requirements for formation of workers' associations in EPZs."
"I think a similar process is going to unfold with the EU request," he said.
Mr Islam said if Bangladesh fails to respond to the EU demand in a satisfactory manner within the stipulated time, the latter is going to pursue the matter rather than leaving it.
"And at some point, export of ready-made garments to the region is likely to be jeopardised," Mr Islam added.
Rizwanul commented, "The government needs to look at the issue from a longer term point of view and bring consistency in the application of labour laws across the country. Not applying labour laws in EPZs is also not consistent with the democratic norms of the country."
Apparel manufacturers said that the country should immediately comply with the demand made by the EU considering its importance in Bangladesh's shipments.
Rubana Huq, president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), told the FE that they had also been informed of the new deadline for preparing a detailed road map for addressing different labour issues in the country.
She said the EU mentioned child labour but it is not applicable to the RMG (ready-made garment) sector.
"Child labour is not there in any factory under the BGMEA," mentioned Ms Huq, also managing director at Mohammadi Group, a leading apparel organisation.
Mohammad Hatem, first vice president at the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), told the FE that Bangladesh faced many labour-related issues.
The EPZ labour association is mostly a matter of the government's policy, he added.
"We're also in favour of uniform labour laws in the country," Mr Hatem mentioned.
On the other hand, labour leaders say the EU concern over labour issues is nothing unfair. They said Bangladesh should plan both in the short term and long term on how to implement the demands pressed from the EU.
Nazma Akter, president of Sommilito Garments Sramik Federation, told the FE that one country cannot have two laws for its workers.
"We've been fighting for it for long, but still there is no outcome," said Nazma Akter, who is also co-chair of the Asia Pacific Women's Committee of IndustriALL Global Union.
There is a need for short-term and long-term planning to address the compliance issues as sought by the international pressure groups, she added.
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