Both the United States and Bangladesh have a shared interest in ensuring that the growth of Bangladesh’s export sector does not come at the expense of safe and healthy working conditions or fundamental labour rights, senior State Department officials said on Wednesday. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert O Blake and Special Representative for International Labour Affairs Barbara Shailor also said that the tragedy at Rana Plaza once again underscores the urgent need for government, owners, buyers, and labour organizations to work together to improve labour safety and the lives of working people in Bangladesh.
They were speaking at a conference call with US buyers in Bangladesh’s garment industry convened jointly by the State Department, Department of Labour and Office of the Trade Representative to discuss US Government engagement to improve workers’ rights and working conditions in Bangladesh, and to review how the private sector can assist in these vital ongoing efforts, said a media note issued by the State Department.
The State Department strongly urged US buyers to coordinate efforts with each other and with the Government of Bangladesh and the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers & Exporters Association (BGMEA), as well as civil society and labour groups, on factory safety and fire initiatives, including helping pay for independent safety and fire inspectors.
They encouraged the buyers to communicate their concerns about labour conditions to the BGMEA and the Bangladeshi Government, and to urge immediate passage of the labour law amendments to lay the basis for the establishment of an International Labour Organization and International Finance Corporation Better Work Program.
-With The Independent input
