Tuesday, October 14, 2025

Trade facility cannot be taken for granted: EU

Retailers to inspect garment factories in Bangladesh
DHAKA, JULY 8: The European Union (EU) has made it clear that Bangladesh cannot take the trade preferences to the EU market for granted and that appropriate action will be considered if there is
insufficient progress for the workers. “I want to make it clear that Bangladesh – or for that matter any other Least Developed Country – cannot take for granted the trade preferences it currently enjoys,” EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht told a press conference in Geneva on Monday after hosting a high-level meeting in response to tragedies in workplaces in Bangladesh.
“Under the “Everything But Arms” scheme, the EU may consider appropriate action should there be no, or insufficient progress for Bangladeshi workers,” he said.
Representatives of the Bangladesh government, US government, International Labour Organisation (ILO), employees, industry, employers and key stakeholders took part in the meeting titled “Staying Engaged – A Sustainability Compact with Bangladesh”.
“Bangladesh enjoys an extremely favourable trade regime under the EU’s “Everything But Arms” initiative. This is of particular importance for ready-made garments, which represent about 90 per cent of Bangladesh’s exports to the EU. These enter the EU market with no restriction: duty-free and quota-free. These exports to the EU account for about 2.5 million jobs – mostly for women. “Everything But Arms” is therefore a major contributor to job and income generation for millions of people in Bangladesh,” said the Commissioner.
He, however, assured EU assistance for Bangladesh in addressing the issues relating to labour rights and safe working.
About the initiative, De Gucht said, “As you are aware, I took the initiative of convening this high-level meeting in Geneva today to reduce the risks of another Rana Plaza-type tragedy happening again in Bangladesh. All of us here today are committed to doing our utmost to prevent such a terrible loss of life in the future.”
“Let me be clear: this is the start of a journey together and one that is not going to be easy,” he said.
“I am pleased that we are able to launch today a major multi-stakeholder “Compact” or agreement to improve labour rights, working conditions and factory safety in the Ready-Made Garment industry in Bangladesh. The Compact commits us – the Government of Bangladesh, the European Union, and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) – to a number of time-bound actions,” he said.
“Today´s “Compact” is a key step and we expect the Bangladesh government to continue working closely with ILO, industry and trade unions to improve the day-to-day life for workers,” he added.
The EU Trade Commissioner outlined few issues with regards to labour rights and working conditions in Bangladesh such as reform of the Bangladesh Labour Law to strengthen workers’ rights – in particular regarding freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining, and to improve occupational health and safety.
“New rules must be in place by as soon as possible after the adoption of the new labour law. The ILO will monitor the effective enforcement of the new legislation,” he said.
De Gucht also talked of improving building and fire safety, especially structural safety of buildings and fire safety in ready-made garment factories, by June 2014. The ILO will help to coordinate efforts and mobilise technical resources.
He mentioned recruiting 200 additional inspectors by the end of 2013, as part of the efforts to ensure regular visits to factories and assess them in terms of working conditions, including occupational safety and health, and compliance with labour laws.
“What happened in Bangladesh just over 2 months ago is simply unacceptable. It is our duty to change this situation and quickly,” noted the Commissioner, adding, “EU lawmakers and European consumers expect reassurances that Bangladesh is moving in the right direction.”
De Gucht further said, “The first true test of Bangladesh’s commitment will of course be the adoption by its parliament of a revised Labour Law at the end of this week or early next week. The objective is to beef up crucial aspects of the Labour Law – notably freedom of association, the right to collective bargaining as well as improved occupational safety and health.”
“I expect this revised Labour Law to apply to all workers, including those in Export Processing Zones. It is essential that the workers in such zones enjoy the same rights and working conditions as workers in other parts of Bangladesh,” he said. The Commissioner, however, said, “I realise that this will be a challenging task for Bangladesh. I am fully aware of the need for Bangladesh to receive support.”
“Let me be clear: The EU is ready to help,” he said.
“We have also discussed this “Compact” with our American partners. They are still in the decision-making process on joining the initiative,” he added.
Meanwhile, a group of 70 retailers have agreed to a plan to conduct inspections of garment factories in Bangladesh in an attempt to improve safety standards.
They will provide details of factories they source goods from, which will be inspected within the next nine months.
Funds will be made available for any safety upgrades needed at the units.
The legally-binding code was announced earlier this year after the collapse of a garment factory in Bangladesh in April killed more than 1,100 people.
The eight-storey Rana Plaza building came crashing down on 24 April, a day after cracks had been spotted in the building. It was the deadliest in a series of accidents that have resulted in global attention being focussed on safety standards in Bangladesh’s garments export industry, the second biggest in the world after China’s.
‘Strong coalition’
Several big names, including Sweden’s H&M, the biggest buyer of Bangladeshi-made clothes, signed up to the code after the incident.
It requires them not just to meet minimum fire and building safety standards, but also to pay for them.
Other signatories include Inditex, which owns Zara, Benetton, Metro, Carrefour, Marks and Spencer, Tesco, Esprit and Abercrombie & Fitch.
“This historic, legally binding accord will effect tangible change on the ground and help make the Bangladeshi garment industry safe and sustainable,” said Jyrki Raina, general secretary of IndustriALL, a labour group which played a key role in creating the pact.
Mr Raina added that the factory fires and collapses in Bangladesh over the past few years indicated that efforts by individual retailers had “proved insufficient” in addressing the issue.
“A profound change is possible only with a strong coalition between trade unions, international brands and retailers, Bangladeshi authorities and employers, and with worker involvement in the workplace with guaranteed freedom of association.”
The International Development Secretary, Justine Greening, said UK companies needed to play their part in helping raise standards: “British business must be a force for good in the developing world too, so that together we can help end aid dependency through jobs.”

-With The Independent input

Related News

Bangladesh and KSA sign pact for workers’ rights

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia have just inked a labour recruitment agreement, marking the first deal aimed at promoting fair recruitment practices and protecting workers’ rights. Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Adviser, Prof. Asif Nazrul, and the Saudi Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, Engineer Ahmad Bin Solaiman Al-Rajhi, recently came ... Read more

Poor pay, allowances of teachers affect education

World Teacher’s Day today Shahin Akhter Poor pay-scale and allowances and low social status mark the poor condition of the teachers in Bangladesh affecting the education sector, observed educationists and researchers. They also said that the Bangladeshi teachers were lagging much behind their fellows even in the neighbouring countries in terms of these facilities and ... Read more

Protecting hilsa: 22-day fishing ban begins

News Desk : dhakamirror.com The government has put a 22-day halt on catching, transporting, storing, selling, and marketing hilsa throughout the country. This measure aims to protect the fish during its crucial breeding season. The ban started at midnight yesterday and will last until October 25, as stated in a notification from the Ministry of ... Read more

Road fatalities: 446 crashes, 417 lives lost in September

News Desk : dhakamirror.com In September, a tragic report from the Road Safety Foundation revealed that at least 417 people lost their lives and 682 were injured in 446 road accidents throughout Bangladesh. Among those who died, there were 63 women and 47 children, as highlighted in the foundation’s monthly report released today. In 151 ... Read more

Man’s fatal fall into Ramna Park lake

News Desk : dhakamirror.com A tragic incident occurred yesterday at Ramna Park in the capital, where a man drowned in the lake. The victim has been identified as 55-year-old Wasimul Haq. The police were able to identify him using fingerprint records. According to Ramna police SI Mizanur Rahman, he was discovered unconscious around 6:00 PM ... Read more

Tariff Commission’s size-based hilsa pricing strategy

News Desk : dhakamirror.com The Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission (BTTC), also known as the Tariff Commission, has suggested setting a maximum retail price for hilsa based on its size. This recommendation comes in response to the unusual spike in prices seen in the local market. On Sunday, the Tariff Commission released a report detailing ... Read more

Ekushey Book Fair won’t happen in December

News Desk : dhakamirror.com The Bangla Academy announced yesterday (28 September), that the previously scheduled dates for the Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2026 have been postponed. In a press release, they explained that this decision was made following a directive from the Ministry of Home Affairs on September 21, which indicated that the fair should ... Read more

Working in Bangladesh is quite challenging: CEC

News Desk : dhakamirror.com The Election Commission is grappling with a mix of challenges, both seen and unseen, as it gears up for the upcoming elections and responds to various demands, shared chief election commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin on Saturday. “These hurdles might not be apparent from the outside, but we’re constantly navigating through them,” ... Read more

Travel ban on Keokradong hill to be lifted starting from 1 October

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Great news for travelers! Keokradong hill in Bandarban’s Ruma upazila is set to welcome tourists again starting October 1. The district administration has finally lifted the travel ban that had been in effect for almost three years. Bandarban Deputy Commissioner (DC) Shamim Ara Rini announced the decision today (27 September) during ... Read more

Tree planting campaign to lower pollution, make city more attractive

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Administrator Md Shahjahan Mia has inaugurated a tree plantation and greening programme covering 33 road medians, spanning a total length of 31 kilometres, within the corporation’s jurisdiction. Under the “Zero Soil” programme, ornamental flowering trees and grasses will be planted across 28 DSCC medians, while the ... Read more

Krishi Bank ranks third in remittance collection

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Krishi Bank has shown remarkable success in collecting remittances from expatriates during the first eight months of 2025 (January–August). Known as bank for farmers due to its agricultural loan services, this state-owned institution has climbed to the third position in remittance collection from abroad in that timeframe. This notable achievement has ... Read more

North Bay low : Rain forecast for Bangladesh

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Many parts of the country is expected to witness moderate to heavy and very heavy rainfall in the coming days due to the formation of a low-pressure system over the north Bay and adjoining coastal areas, the Met office said in its latest forecast. According to Bangladesh Meteorological Department’s 120-hour weather ... Read more

Metrorail boosts service: Extended hours & more frequent arrivals

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Dhaka metrorail service is set to start operating earlier in the morning and later at night to better serve the growing number of passengers. Service hours will be extended by 30 minutes at both the beginning and end of the day, and the interval between trains will be reduced by nearly ... Read more

22% minors in Bangladesh’s sex trade

News Desk : dhakamirror.com At least 22 percent of victims of commercial sexual exploitation (abuse of a person, or a minor, through sexual activities in exchange for money, goods, or other benefits) in Bangladesh are children, said speakers at an event yesterday. They shared the information at the launch of “Project Shurakkha”, an initiative of ... Read more

WB Reports Bangladesh Heat Costs at $1.78 Billion in 2024

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Rising temperatures in Bangladesh are fueling a surge in heat-related illnesses, leading to the loss of 250 million workdays in 2024 and economic losses estimated at $1.33–1.78 billion, representing about 0.3 to 0.4 percent of Bangladesh’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2024, according to a new World Bank report. The report ... Read more

Police clearance no longer required for passports

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus announced that police verification will no longer be necessary for obtaining a passport, thereby reducing unnecessary hassle for citizens. “Getting a passport is a basic right. We have established a rule that eliminates the need for police verification,” he stated. While speaking at the opening session ... Read more

Metro rail achieves record 4 lakh daily passengers

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Metro Rail has achieved a remarkable milestone by carrying over 400,000 passengers in a single day. The Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL), which operates the Metro Rail, announced this achievement on their official Facebook page on Friday night. For the first time, Metro Rail recorded 403,164 passengers. The Metro Rail ... Read more

Most people, about 66% think civil servants behave as if they are rulers

News Desk : dhakamirror.com More than 100,000 participants have contributed their responses to reform commission’s online survey 80% of the respondents believe that the administration is not approachable for the general public, according to a survey conducted by the Public Administration Reform Commission. Additionally, 66% of participants feel that civil servants act as if they ... Read more

Former Justice Abdur Rouf dies

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Former Chief Election Commissioner Justice Md Abdur Rouf has passed away at the age of 91. He died around 10:00 am while receiving treatment at Insaf Barakah Kidney and General Hospital in Dhaka, as stated in a press release. Justice Rouf had been battling heart disease, lung complications, kidney issues, and ... Read more

Bangladesh climbed 4 positions to rank 93rd in global passport index

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Bangladesh has climbed four notches up in the latest Henley Passport Index 2025, ranking 93rd out of 99. However, the number of visa-free destinations for Bangladeshi passport holders has dropped from 42 in 2024 to 39 this year, reflecting a decline in global travel privileges. Despite this improvement in rank — ... Read more