Govt to engage lobbyist firm for USTR hearing
Friday, 28 September 2007
Naim-Ul-Karim
The government is involving a lobbyist firm to help Bangladesh delegation in the office of the United State Trade Representative (USTR) hearing October 4 next thwart a move for withdrawal of the generalised system of preferences (GSP) facilities being enjoyed by the country.
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.
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.
"We have already informed our Washington mission about the government's decision on taking help of a lobby firm," an official source told the FE.
He said a nine-member delegation, led by M Humayun Kabir, Bangladesh ambassador to the USA, will take part in hearing.
The delegation will comprise Brigadier General Ashraf Abdullah Yusuf, Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Export Procession Zone Authority, Pariskhit Datta Chowdhury, joint secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries, Fazlul Haque, president of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association, Syed Mahmudul Haque, president of Bangladesh Frozen Foods Exporters Association, Sabbir Ahmed Chowdhury, BGMEA adviser in Washington, S K Zenifar Jabbar, compliance consultant of BGMEA, Faisal Samad, vice president of BGMEA, and Nurul Islam of Bangladesh Trade Union Centre.
The AFL-CIO in its petition alleged: "Bangladesh … 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."
According to the Chief Inspector of Factories in the capital city of Bangladesh, Dhaka, there is only one inspector for roughly ever 1,000 factories, the petition said adding "since the State of Emergency , all trade union activities have been forbidden and the Ministry of Labour has refused to register new trade unions."
The AFL-CIO's petition said there are violations of labour rights in the export processing zones (EPZs), apparel units, shrimps and fish processing industries.
"The government, BEPZA and management continually violate these laws and intimidate and harass workers to keep them from exercising their rights under the law," the AFL-CIO reports mentioned.
In conclusion, it also mentioned "for almost two decades, the Bangladesh government has refused to, in any substantial or meaningful way, make real changes to improve worker rights in their country."
When contacted, some concerned stakeholders said competitors of booming export market of Bangladesh has long been trying to spoil the image of country.
They ruled out the allegation on employment of child labour in RMG saying Bangladesh is now in a better position than any time in the past to address compliance issues.
The US market is the single largest export destination of Bangladesh that accounts for 36 per cent of its total exports.
The government is involving a lobbyist firm to help Bangladesh delegation in the office of the United State Trade Representative (USTR) hearing October 4 next thwart a move for withdrawal of the generalised system of preferences (GSP) facilities being enjoyed by the country.
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.
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.
"We have already informed our Washington mission about the government's decision on taking help of a lobby firm," an official source told the FE.
He said a nine-member delegation, led by M Humayun Kabir, Bangladesh ambassador to the USA, will take part in hearing.
The delegation will comprise Brigadier General Ashraf Abdullah Yusuf, Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Export Procession Zone Authority, Pariskhit Datta Chowdhury, joint secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries, Fazlul Haque, president of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association, Syed Mahmudul Haque, president of Bangladesh Frozen Foods Exporters Association, Sabbir Ahmed Chowdhury, BGMEA adviser in Washington, S K Zenifar Jabbar, compliance consultant of BGMEA, Faisal Samad, vice president of BGMEA, and Nurul Islam of Bangladesh Trade Union Centre.
The AFL-CIO in its petition alleged: "Bangladesh … 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."
According to the Chief Inspector of Factories in the capital city of Bangladesh, Dhaka, there is only one inspector for roughly ever 1,000 factories, the petition said adding "since the State of Emergency , all trade union activities have been forbidden and the Ministry of Labour has refused to register new trade unions."
The AFL-CIO's petition said there are violations of labour rights in the export processing zones (EPZs), apparel units, shrimps and fish processing industries.
"The government, BEPZA and management continually violate these laws and intimidate and harass workers to keep them from exercising their rights under the law," the AFL-CIO reports mentioned.
In conclusion, it also mentioned "for almost two decades, the Bangladesh government has refused to, in any substantial or meaningful way, make real changes to improve worker rights in their country."
When contacted, some concerned stakeholders said competitors of booming export market of Bangladesh has long been trying to spoil the image of country.
They ruled out the allegation on employment of child labour in RMG saying Bangladesh is now in a better position than any time in the past to address compliance issues.
The US market is the single largest export destination of Bangladesh that accounts for 36 per cent of its total exports.