Dhaka expects positive outcome at USTR hearing

FE Team | Published: October 27, 2007 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

FE Report
The government expects a positive outcome after submission of all required clarification and documents in support of protection of labour rights in the country at the United States Trade Representative (USTR) in Washington DC on Friday.
"We are optimistic about a positive outcome at the USTR hearing," a senior commerce ministry official said.
A panel of USTR at the end of a hearing on October 4 asked all concerned stakeholders of Bangladesh to submit clarification in support of their statements by October 26.
The hearing took place after a US-based Non-Government Organisation (NGO) -- the American Federation of Labour and Congress of Industrial Organisations (AFL-CIO) -- filed a petition on June 22 to the USTR to drop Bangladesh from the list of eligible GSP beneficiary countries for alleged violation of labour rights in the country.
The AFL-CIO in its petition alleged: "Bangladesh â€¦ is not taking steps to afford internationally recognised worker rights, including 1) the right of association, 2) the right to organise and bargain collectively, 3) freedom from compulsory labour, 4) minimum age for the employment of children, and 5) acceptable conditions of work with respect to minimum wages, hours of work and occupational safety and health."
M. Humayun Kabir, Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States submitted the clarification and documents at the USTR Friday night on behalf of all stakeholders, official source said.
When asked about the next course of action, he said the panel of USTR, led by Marideth Joy Sandler, Executive Director of GSP programme at the USTR, will review the clarification and documents as well as determine the actual progress on the ground with a view to reaching a conclusion on the petition by the AFL-CIO.
If required, the official said, the panel can seek further clarification and document on any specific issue in this connection.
Under the GSP facility, Bangladesh has been enjoying duty-free export of its products to the US market since 1993, based on commitment to adhere to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) standards.