Gsp Restoration
US senator warns against torture of trade unionists
Tofail terms comments unwanted
The chairman of the US senate committee on foreign relations Robert Menendez has warned that he would not support the reinstatement of generalized system of preferences for Bangladesh if the factory owners continue harassment and intimidation of trade union organisers and members. Menendez, also a member of the senate committee on finance, on Monday wrote a letter to the president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, Atiqul Islam, urging him to take immediate and substantial steps to end the harassment and intimidation of union organizers and members by the garment factory owners in his industry association.
The commerce minister Tofail Ahmed on Tuesday termed the remark of US senator unwanted and disappointing.
This kind of comment is really disappointing at a time when Bangladesh has fulfilled almost all the requirements of GSP action plan, he told reporters after a meeting with German ambassador at his ministry.
‘Just now there is no labour unrest in the country and we will contact with the authorities concerned in US about the comment of Menendez,’ he said.
Tofail hoped that the US would take decision on restoration of GSP facility based on reality.
The BGMEA leaders, however, said that they have not received such kind of letter from the US senator.
The US senator, in his letter, said that four union organizers, including two women, were reportedly severely injured by two dozen attackers in last month as they tried to organise workers in a large garment factory.
‘Incidents like these are completely unacceptable and the BGMEA is obligated to play a stronger role in preventing them… I strongly urge you to exercise your leadership to end these grave injustices and protect workers’ rights and safety,’ Menendez said.
He said that GSP benefits were earlier suspended shortly after a senate committee hearing,
and an Action Plan was created that laid out several requirements for renewal.
‘The Action Plan requires the protection of unions and their members from anti-union discrimination and reprisal.’
He said by a written testimony BGMEA had mentioned that it was forming a new department to deal with workers’ rights, recruiting a labour consultant, and preparing a plan to educate factory owners and workers on the labour laws. ‘I welcome these initial steps, but more can and should be done.’
The US president Barak Obama announced the suspension of GSP benefits to Bangladesh because of the dire state of workers’ rights and safety.
On July 19 last year the US government put forward a 16-point plan of action to Bangladesh for reinstating the GSP benefits.
-With New Age input
