The US ambassador in Dhaka Sunday expressed her willingness to pursue the cause of tariff reduction for Bangladesh’s apparel products with the Congress, junior labour minister said. “The US ambassador has told us that she will submit a report to the congressmen for reducing the tariff on Bangladeshi made apparel products,” state minister for labour Mujibul Haque told the reporters after a meeting with Marcia Stephens Bloom Bernicat at his secretariat office in the city. At the meeting, the junior minister raised the issue of GSP (generalised system of preferences), a trade benefit for which Bangladesh is no longer eligible. “The tariff issue is more important than the GSP,” the junior minister quoted the envoy as saying. Bangladesh’s apparel exports face average 16 per cent duty in the US market, he said “We’ve discussed the factory inspection, trade union registration and labour rights,” Mr Haque said, adding Bangladesh has met all the conditions in line with the US action plan. But some labour rights issues still need to be addressed, he added. In June 2013, the US has suspended the GSP for Bangladesh, citing poor working condition and labour rights. Later, the US provided a 16-point action plan including recruitment of additional inspectors, factory inspection and publicly accessible database for the garment sector. Responding to a question over the human trafficking, the junior minister said each year some 1.2 to 1.5 million people join the workforce, many of whom cannot be absorbed into the job market. “There are vested quarters, who are engaged in human trafficking with false commitments,” he added. Responding to a question over human trafficking, the US envoy said, “We’re working with Bangladesh government and other regions involved as well as providing humanitarian support.” Labour Secretary Mikail Shipar and Inspector General of Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments Syed Ahmed, among others, were present in the meeting.
Source: https://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2015/05/18/93055
