EU for greater worker safety

The European Union has advised Bangladesh to pay ‘much more attention’ to promoting factory safety and workers’ rights to consolidate its clothing market while acknowledging that ‘much progress’ had been made after the Rana Plaza building collapse last year. It also asked foreign companies working through their global supply chains ‘to pay more attention to responsible business practices’ in the review of its ‘sustainable compact’ rolled out a year ago, July 8 last year. ‘With these two dynamics working in parallel and provided the commitment to better work is unchanged, the memory and dignity of the persons who perished in the Rana Plaza disaster will be upheld,’ says a report the European Commission published on Tuesday. The report reviews the progress made and outlines the steps still needed. The Commission says the review will be used as a basis for discussions ‘in a follow-up stocktaking exercise’ in Brussels, to which key stakeholders will be invited. European Commissioner for Trade Karel De Gucht and Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion László Andor also issued a joint statement in launching the report. ‘We welcome the serious commitment to deliver marked progress today. Better labour conditions will support sustainable trade links with many markets, especially the European Union,’ read the statement. The 9-storey Rana Plaza collapsed at Savar on April 24 last year killing more than 1100 people mostly garment workers, triggering worldwide concerns, according to bdnews24.com.