TIB concerned over US move to review duty-free access

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FE Report
Bangladesh chapter of the Transparency International (TI) called upon the US authorities to act in a responsible manner and refrain from taking any action in the wake of the Tazreen factory fire that might adversely affect the ready-made garment (RMG) industry of the country and further victimise the workers.
In a statement Saturday, Executive Director of the Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Iftekharuzzaman expressed concern over a reported initiative by a section of the US lawmakers to review the status of duty-free access of Bangladeshi garments to the US market in the wake of the Tazreen tragedy and said nothing in the wake of such tragedies could justify any measure that could restrict duty-free access of Bangladeshi products to the US market.
According to reports in Bangladeshi and international media, reacting to the Tazreen factory fire a group of 12 lawmakers asked the US Trade Representative's Office to accelerate review whether Bangladesh should remain part of the Generalised System of Preferences through which Bangladeshi products gets duty-free access.
"The lesson learnt from the Tazreen fire is not to scare businesses and investors away from Bangladesh, but to underscore the importance of conducting business with responsibility and integrity' the ED said.
Iftekharuzzaman said the tragedy, indeed, resulted from weak law enforcement, corruption and a desperate game of making quick money.
He added that everyone responsible must be brought to justice to prevent such tragedies in the future and ensure higher safety standards.
"This (the US lawmakers' initiative) will mean chopping off the head for headache, and lead to punishing the garment workers for no fault of them, over 85 per cent of whom are women," he said.
Citing TIB's concern equally about the deteriorating working conditions, the executive director called upon the US lawmakers and the government, particularly US Trade Representative's Office to refrain from any shortsighted, irresponsible and cowardly course.
"We are particularly disappointed as the move comes reportedly because the lawmakers are concerned about workers' rights. We suspect that such a stance can bring self-contradictory results. Instead of any negative course we call upon them to rather incentivise," he said He also urged the US buyers including the government and commercial contractors to promote more business as co-stakeholders in a manner that ensures highest safety standards and welfare of workers.
The TIB ED also called upon the US buyers to compensate the families of the Tazreen fire victims and conduct more ethical business.
"The US cannot shy away from their own role to ensure stricter compliance with safety standards in factories they conduct business with. Playing safe and rapidly dumping business when tragedies occur are cowardly," the statement said.
"Profit from cheap garments comes at a cost which the US and for that matter other buyers and governments of the developed world have to share, if they want us to be convinced that they practise what they preach", Iftekhar said.