US congressman George Miller, who came to Dhaka on Saturday on a five-day visit to inspect conditions of garment industry after the deadly Tazreen fire and collapse of Rana Plaza, said on Wednesday that Bangladesh must meet the international standard of compliance with a new sense of urgency; otherwise the apparel industry would face severe consequences.Talking to a group of reporters at the American Center, Miller, a top Democrat on the house education and the workforce committee, stressed on the rights of workers and their association, registration of unions, fire and work safety and improvement of labour law to overcome the challenges facing the country’s apparel industry.
He said there was concern in the US congress whether there was right of workers, registration of unions and workplace safety in garment factories in Bangladesh. He said in the past registration of union was not received by the administration but after the filing of a petition by AFL-CIO against GSP facility for Bangladesh, union registration was approved.
Referring to the government’s approval of the amended labour law, Miller said some organisations had pointed out some flaws in it and hoped that the labour law would be further improved and passed by Bangladesh parliament.
He observed that had there been the right of workers to say ‘no’, owners and supervisors of the factories located in Rana Plaza would not have been able to force them to work in the faulty buildings.
The US congressman also expressed concern at the torture and murder of labour leader Aminul Islam and called for quick investigation into it. He said though registration of unions had started, it was too slow.
‘Bangladesh is to answer a lot of questions,’ he said, indicating the country’s desire to retain the US GSP facility. After going back to Washington he will submit a report to the house education and the workforce committee as well as meet congressman Sander Levin (Democrat-Michigan), ranking member of the house committee on ways and means, that deals with issues of GSP.
In reply to a question, Miller said he thought brands that always forced price had a great responsibility for what happened in the garment industry in Bangladesh.
Referring to his meeting with BGMEA leaders, he said they had readily acknowledged that some industries that used residential buildings as garment factories could not continue.
Miller, however, said he was encouraged by fire safety code, saying that the government, manufacturers and retailers would help the process for its implementation.
About his meeting with foreign minister Dipu Moni, he said she had assured him that they were doing everything they could to retain the GSP facility.
Asked about Bangladesh’s persistent demand for duty- and quota-free access of RMG to the American market, the congressman said in the middle of these tragedies and non-compliance by the garment factories the American people would ‘go crazy’ at this demand. He said a lot of things would have to be resolved and they would have to see what shape the industry would take.
Referring to the fire at Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in New York over a century ago that shook the conscience of the American people and spurred government and industry to implement crucial reforms, he said the outcome of the tragedies at Tazreen and Rana Plaza would give a new sense of urgency which would be better for workers and the industry as well.
-With New Age input
