Govt to mention about progresses in 2nd report

The government will mention about some progresses regarding appointment of inspectors and creation of database for garment sector in its second report to be placed before the US Trade Representative in line with the US Action Plan for restoration of generalised system of preferences (GSP) benefits, officials said.

The government's steps toward the issues of labour rights in export processing zones (EPZs) will also find a place in the progress report, they mentioned, adding the commerce ministry would send the reports to the USTR on April 15, 2014.

Earlier Bangladesh sent its first progress report on November 15 last year after the suspension of the GSP benefits in the US market, they said adding the US will review the GSP status in May this year and has asked the Bangladesh authority to submit its report on further progress by mid-April, about the progress made especially after December.

"We are preparing the second progress report and it will be sent to the US by April 15, Commerce Secretary Mahbub Ahmed told the FE Saturday.

He also said the country has made progress in many areas as per the recommendations of the USTR and the remaining conditions including establishment of database, recruitment of inspectors and the conditions regarding EPZs will be met by March end.

Mr Ahmed, said, the commerce ministry has been coordinating with other ministries, agencies, departments and private sector stakeholders such as BGMEA and BKMEA to regain the GSP.

The US suspended the trade privilege on June 27, citing serious shortcomings in labour rights and working conditions after Tazreen Fashions fire and Rana Plaza building collapse that killed more than 1200 garment workers.

Earlier, the US authority reviewed the progress made in the country's garment sector until December last year. During the last review, the US authority said Bangladesh has made some improvements but lots are needed to be done to restore the GSP benefits.

The US Embassy in a recent note to the Bangladesh government said that Bangladesh is yet to make any tangible progress in several key areas including fire and building inspections and recruitment of additional 200 inspectors, upgradation of the EPZ law to international standards and stopping of harassment and intimidation of labour activists.

In a meeting held on February 13, foreign diplomats from US, Canada, German, Netherlands and EU suggested the government make visible progress by March end to restore the GSP benefit in the US and sustain the same benefits in the EU markets.

They said all the people across the globe including the international press, the consumers and buyers of Bangladeshi made apparel products want to know the developments in the garment sector ahead of the anniversary of the Rana Plaza tragedy.

When contacted, labour ministry joint secretary Faizur Rahman said, "The condition was to appoint 200 inspectors. We have now decided to appoint 288." Of them, 65 will be non-cadre first class officials while 223 will be second class, he added.

"A final proposal will be sent to the Public Service Commission (PSC) within a few days," he added.

BCS candidates compete for first class jobs in the country's civil service, but the government wants to take in the second class officials from the interested ones. A large number of candidates come out successful in all tests including the viva-voce, but only some are selected for cadre posts due to the limited vacancy, a source said.

Regarding a publicly accessible database, he said his ministry is working with ILO to create the database. ILO, under its two projects, will establish the database with information related to workplace safety and labour standards and rights.

Regarding trade union activities, a senior commerce ministry official said, the government will sit with the apparel makers, especially those 19 factory owners against whom there are allegations that they are not allowing trade unions in their factories or creating hindrances, today (Monday).

When asked about the EPZ, commerce secretary said the working committee on harmonisation of EPZ law and labour law 2013 has prepared its draft report and submitted it to the main committee. The main committee in consultation with the stakeholders will finalise it.

From January this year, EPZ workers can call strikes and there is no blacklisting, he said.

Regarding other progresses, the government has already withdrawn an order that scrapped the registration of two NGOs - Bangladesh Centre for Women Solidarity and Social Activities for the Environment, sources said adding they are running their activities from August 2013.  

Sources said, cases against labour leaders Kalpona Akter and Babul Akter have been withdrawn, as required in the US action plan.

The trial of labour leader Aminul Islam killing case has already started, they added.

After the suspension of the GSP, the US had sent the government a set of recommendations so that the trade privilege could be regained after review.