United States Congressman George Miller has warned of severe consequences if Bangladesh fails to ensure labour rights. “It is very clear that if these people (workers) do not have rights at work and if they do not have the right to turn down unsafe working conditions then Bangladesh will be stuck in the past and I think will have severe consequences,” he told a group of journalists at the American Centre on Wednesday. “Bangladesh has two choices. They can go to the future and they can assist upon safe working condition, safe factory and programme for fire prevention, or they can struggle in the past and lose the value of the Bangladesh label,” said the Congressman, a senior Democrat on the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
“I am here as a part of the congressional concern around the tragic incidents that have been taken place in the industry in Bangladesh – Tazreen fire and Rana Plaza factory collapse,” he said about the purpose of his visit.
“The workers would have been alive had there strong trade union. They tried to flee the fire and they were forced back in to building by their supervisors and for the fear of their jobs. They did not have the confidence to leave,” said Miller.
“This has captured the concern of the entire world. It obviously captured great concern in the US because we have our own history,” he said.
“The concern I see in America and the congress is whether or not these women are secured in their employment, whether or not they have rights at works and they are going to be safe,” he added.
About the trade unions, the Congressman said, “Registration of trade union was well received but now the process is ongoing after the petition was filed. I am now told by ministers and government officials that everybody now understands this is a constitutional right and if they get 30 percent to say they want union they get a union.”
About GSP, he said, “Well we know for some times Bangladesh having the benefits of GSP is not being compliant with international standard and workers rights. One of tenants of GSP is to comply with the international standard.”
“There are lots of questions for Bangladesh to answer. My sense is there is a sense of urgency. GSP issue is not mine but I am going to have meeting Sandra Levin of Ways and Means Committee,” he added.
Miller went on to say, “GSP is rapidly becoming a series of benchmark. They are very important for the international community. Let’s get down what is required for GSP and that is internationally recognised benchmark for workers’ right and safe work place and workers’ right to organize.”
“That is not present in the full form in Bangladesh. I am told this (trade union) is a new day, Bangladesh knows where it has to go, it is a constitutional right to workers to have that. We shall see but our patience is not endless,” he said.
-With The Independent input
