Global rights groups have lodged complaints against the European Commission for its failure to uphold fundamental human rights in trade policy towards Bangladesh.
They also called for launching an investigation into Bangladesh’s eligibility for the European Union's (EU) GSP (Generalisaed System of Preferences) benefits.
The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC) and the HEC-NYU EU Public Interest Clinic on Monday filed the formal complaint with the European Ombudsman.
They have claimed that the commission is not taking into account its human rights obligations regarding trade policies towards Bangladesh.
Also, it is not transparent about doing so, according to a statement issued by the CCC.
Bangladesh benefits from preferential tariffs on its exports to Europe under the EU's GSP.
GSP is an EU instrument which was enacted to encourage sustainable development in beneficiary countries.
The GSP requires those beneficiary countries to maintain certain labour standards and to respect human rights.
As a least developed country, Bangladesh benefits from the most favourable regime under the "Everything But Arms" (EBA).
As the name suggests, the EBA scheme grants duty-free and quota-free access to the EU single market for all export products except for arms and ammunition.
Bangladesh is the most significant beneficiary of the EBA, and the EU is Bangladesh's primary trade partner.
The ready-made-garment industry accounts for a large majority of Bangladesh's exports and employs more than four million workers.
Bangladesh has committed "serious" and "systematic" violations of fundamental workers' rights, the groups alleged.
Conditions are unsafe for millions of workers in Bangladesh, they alleged.
The commission has urged Bangladesh to improve conditions, but has not launched a formal investigation into Bangladesh's GSP status.
The GSP provides a powerful tool for the commission to ensure that economic development does not leave workers behind, said the statement.
The commission has failed to create a transparent and objective process for deciding when an investigation should be launched.
"Bangladesh government needs to stand up for working people, and not simply bow to the demands of powerful factory owners, many of whom are responsible for egregious exploitation," said ITUC general gecretary Sharan Burrow.
"This complaint is aimed at getting the EU to send a clear message to Bangladesh in line with the commitments the EU itself has made."
Ben Vanpeperstraete, lobby and advocacy coordinator of the campaign, said, "The government of Bangladesh has had ample opportunity to make tangible, practical and concrete improvements for workers rights".
"As Bangladesh's largest trade partner, the EU has a responsibility to ensure that the workers who make Europeans' clothing are operating in safe factory conditions," Paige Morrow, executive director of the HEC-NYU EU Public Interest Clinic, said.
Launching an investigation will not lead to an automatic cut-off of Bangladesh's trade privileges, said Paige Morrow.
Instead, he added, it shows that "Europe is committed to upholding labour standards fairly and consistently."
When asked, labour secretary Afroza Khan said her ministry does not deal with the issues related to trade policy.
She, however, said labour rights situation has improved much in the country.
"We have also addressed the recommendations made by the International Labour Organisation," she said.
As a result, she added, Bangladesh was excluded from the shortlist of hearing in the International Labour Conference 2018 held in Geneva last week.
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