Five envoys meet 3 govt sceys to get updates on RMG safety, rights

Syful Islam | Published: January 29, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: January 29, 2014 17:26:35

Ambassadors of the United States, the United Kingdom, European Union, Canada, and the Netherlands in Dhaka will sit with three government secretaries on February 13 to get updates on progresses made in the country's ready-made garment (RMG) sector related to workplace safety and labour rights, sources said.
"The ambassadors have expressed their interest in sitting with the secretaries. We have forwarded a letter to the ministry of commerce to arrange the meet," a senior foreign ministry official told the FE Tuesday.
"We have been informed that the five mission heads are ready to sit with the secretaries to get updates on labour rights and workplace conditions in the Bangladeshi factories. Further course of actions to improve the conditions may also be discussed at the meeting," he said. Â
The official said the ambassadors would sit with the secretaries from the ministries of commerce, foreign affairs, and labour. These three secretaries, led by commerce secretary Mahbub Ahmed, were assigned to deal with RMG issues including the revival of generalised system of preferences (GSP) in the US market.
Following the collapse of Rana Plaza in Savar and the deadly blaze at Tazreen Fashions, the US administration last June suspended the GSP facility for Bangladeshi goods in its market.
A senior commerce ministry official told the FE that the revival of GSP in the US and continuation of the same in the European Union (EU) was one of the major concerns for the country.
Against this backdrop, various government bodies are working hard to ensure workplace safety and labour welfare at the factories.
He said they were putting in their best efforts to implement the action plans given by the US and the EU on RMG sector.
The official added various measures have been taken for the workers' welfare and their safety. Necessary changes have been brought to the labour law as per the buyers' requirements.
"The progresses made so far are commendable. We are hopeful of immediate revival of GSP in the US market," commerce secretary Mr Ahmed told the FE earlier and added, "Continuation of GSP facility in the EU market is also expected."
Another trade official said necessary inspection of factory buildings was going on. Some 50 new inspectors have already been appointed after the Rana Plaza tragedy, while steps are there to appoint nearly 400 inspectors by the end of the current year.
He said wages for the apparel factory workers have been raised, so that they can cope with the increased cost of living.