Six international trade union (TU) bodies have called upon the European Union (EU) for taking steps, including partial suspension of trade privileges of Bangladesh, over slow progress in implementing the Sustainability Compact.
In a joint letter to the European Commission (EC) these TUs alleged that anti-union repression in garment sector is on rise while Bangladesh government has failed to implement labour law reforms.
"We think it is time for EU to take a bolder position and take steps to determine whether a partial suspension of trade privileges is in order. Without stronger signals from EU, we fear that the government of Bangladesh will halt any progress, knowing full well that they will face no economic consequences for their intransigence," said the joint letter, signed by representatives of the six organisations.
On March 09, International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and ETUC, along with Global Union Federations UNI and IndustriALL and their European regional bodies, have jointly urged EC to step up action, as anti-union repression in Bangladesh increases and multinational companies in the garment sector hold off from contributing to the fund, leaving families of victims destitute.
"However, we are already seeing progress stall. As the headlines recede, some foreign governments have lost focus and some international garment brands are resisting making the necessary reforms to their business model," the letter said.
"At the same time, the government of Bangladesh is failing to fulfil its many promises and garment manufacturers continue with business as usual - which is to say violating workers' rights with impunity. EC has an important role to play to ensure that the momentum for reform is not lost."
It noted that after undertaking a few, very modest reforms, the government of Bangladesh has refused to move forward with implementation of the Compact, and also requested EC to take a bolder approach to the Sustainability Compact.
Indeed, the government has lashed out at unions, and has done nothing to intervene in a wave of anti-union violence, which threatens to undermine the nascent independent trade union movement. TUs remain outlawed in the EPZs, and promised regulations to implement the labour law reforms of 2013 have still not been issued despite repeated promises, the letter said.
Regarding the Rana Plaza Trust Fund that remains $9 million short of the required $30 million, it added that there was a clear need for leadership to close the funding gap.
"EU (together with member-states) should significantly increase efforts to raise funds, by encouraging European brands sourcing from Bangladesh, the Bangladesh government and BGMEA to contribute to the Trust Fund," it added.
"Europe has considerable influence through its trade ties with Bangladesh, and it needs to put that influence to good use, with Bangladesh and also with European companies," said ITUC in a statement, quoting its general secretary Sharan Burrow.
It also needs to go beyond old and failed corporate-led codes of conduct and monitoring schemes, and recognise that the solutions lie in industrial relations based on ILO standards, it added.
Citing EC's latest move to revise its Corporate Social Responsibility Policy, the joint letter pressed for a stronger CSR approach, which goes beyond voluntary and non-prescriptive initiatives, saying 'non-binding or voluntary approaches by sector associations or by companies are neither sufficient nor effective.'
Bangladeshi products enjoy Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) benefit in the EU countries. More than 60 per cent of its total exports, including apparel, shrimp, leather and leather goods, are shipped to the countries.
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