Visiting European Parliament delegation on Tuesday expressed satisfaction over the welfare and safety measures taken by the government for the country’s RMG workers.”Bangladesh’s RMG sector is progressing fast. The European Union expects that the workers would enjoy rights as per the labour law and Bangladesh is working satisfactorily in this regard,” delegation member Arne Lietz told reporters after a meeting with commerce minister Tofail Ahmed at his secretariat office in the city, reports BSS. Arne Lietz said efforts will have to be continued to protect the rights of the workers because there is scope to do more for the workers.Talking to reporters, commerce minister Tofail Ahmed said Bangladesh is getting GSP facility from the EU under the ‘Everything but Arms (EBA)’ and the trade facilities of the EU are playing important role for socioeconomic development of Bangladesh.After the unexpected Rana Plaza incident, the government and the owners of garment factories have taken various measures to protect the rights, including the workplace safety, of the workers.The overall situation in the garment industry has been improved as the government has taken steps as per the advices of the EU, he added.”Work-friendly and safe green factories are being built in Bangladesh and factory owners are investing huge money to maintain compliance issues,” he said.The delegation members include Linda McAvan, Nobert Neuser and Agnes Jongerius. EU Head of Delegation in Dhaka Ambassador Pierre Mayaudon was also present.The European Union (EU) imports from Bangladesh are dominated by textile and clothing, accounting for 93.8 per cent of the EU’s total imports from Bangladesh in 2016.
