US Ambassador to Bangladesh Marcia Stephens Bloom Bernicat has said the garment sector’s plan to grow to $50 billion by 2021 is crucial to the nation’s development goals, given the enormous contribution the RMG sector makes to Bangladesh’s economy and women’s empowerment, reports UNB. “The United States is partnering with the government, the workers, and the employers to show the world that Bangladesh is working toward new standards for workers’ rights and safety, ensuring that no worker need fear such a tragedy again,” she said. The US diplomat said this in her recent Op-Ed titled ‘Rana Plaza Two-Year Anniversary’ mentioning that tragedies can and should lead to transformation. Bernicat said workers, including thousands of young women employed for the first time, must be afforded the right to raise their concerns, be respected and work in safe conditions. “BGMEA and the government have a responsibility to ensure all factories allow inspectors access and that factories remediate the problems that are identified. These reforms will also increase productivity,” she said. The government of Bangladesh has also begun to show its leadership among industrializing nations by demonstrating its commitment to important labour rights standards. She said the government has registered over 300 unions and created a website for unions to register online. “We encourage the government to ensure these unions’ members are able to exercise their legal right to collectively bargain, free from the fear that they will be fired or harassed, and that illegal retaliation will be dealt with quickly.” The US envoy said they also would welcome the use of an alternative resolution system to prevent disputes between workers and management from escalating into conflict. “We look forward to the new inspectors receiving training from the International Labor Organization and inspecting worksites for wage violations and other issues as mandated by the labor law,” she said. And by issuing the Labour Act’s Implementing Rules, Bernicat said, the government will soon provide employers better guidance, help workers understand their role, and give Bangladesh authorities the direction to properly enforce the law. Two years ago, the Rana Plaza building collapsed, crushing workers and drawing the world’s attention to the readymade garment (RMG) sector in Bangladesh. In one day, Bangladesh lost over 1100 lives. “Today, we remember those workers and grieve their loss along with their families and friends.” “As we look to the future, we see that Bangladesh – its workers, employers, and government – is working alongside the world’s brands and Bangladesh’s international partners to prevent such a tragedy from ever happening again,” said the US diplomat. Together, she said, they are building a better and more productive RMG sector and demonstrating to the world that business success goes hand-in-hand with workers’ rights and safety. The government has hired and begun training over 100 inspectors. But the work is not done; over 1000 factories under the National Tripartite Action Plan have not been inspected. “Other factories remain not registered; their conditions are unknown. We urge all of Bangladesh’s stakeholders to ensure that all factories are safe,” said the US diplomat.
Source: https://www.newstoday.com.bd/index.php?option=details&news_id=2409167&date=2015-04-23
