The US ambassador in Dhaka Marcia Stephans Bloom Barnicat said Thursday "effective" efforts from both the government and the industry are needed to ensure workers' rights and safety requirements in the garment industry.
Although Bangladesh has made some progress in closing down risky factories, recruitment of labour inspectors, and trade union registration, further improvement is needed for implementation of labour law and factory assessment, the US envoy told reporters after a meeting with the leaders of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association.
The meeting with garment exporters was her first since taking over the responsibility as the ambassador in Bangladesh.
"… We also look at BGMEA to play a key role in guaranteeing workers' rights and safety," Ms Barnicat said.
Lauding the progresses, especially the transparency involved in inspection process, she said good things are happening and she described the efforts, now underway in Bangladesh, as "unparallel" compared with rest of the world.
"The reason is the way Bangladesh has responded to the challenges and it has shown the world how proper response can be mobilised and done," she said.
Referring to the challenges Bangladesh still needs to tackle, she said the government should formulate the rules as soon as possible so that factories can comply with the labour law.
She also underlined the need for entrepreneurs' regular discussion with workers' committees and unions.
She was confident that the remaining challenges could be overcome provided all sides including the owners and the government work sincerely.
She also held out the assurance that her government would extend all out support to achieve the goals.
The BGMEA president presented a keynote paper highlighting the strength of the industry, export trend in the world especially in the US, its challenges, and measures that have been taken after the Tazreen blaze and Rana Plaza building collapse to ensure workplace safety.
BGMEA president Md Atiqul Islam, its former presidents Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin, Abdus Salam Murshedy, vice presidents SM Mannan Kochi, Md Shahidullah Azim, Reaz-Bin-Mahmood, former vice president Faruq Hassan, among others were present there.
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