Bangladesh has improved factory safety issues but failed to perk up worker rights to that level required to gain generalised system of preferences from the United States, said US ambassador to Bangladesh Earl R Miller on Tuesday.GSP is based on some requirements applicable to all GSP beneficiary countries, Miller said.‘We have seen significant improvements in factory safety issues [in Bangladesh]. What remains to be improved is in the area of worker rights regarding the trade unions — how businesses accept the idea of the unions,’ he said.He was speaking at a press conference in Dhaka on the three-day 26th annual US Trade Show to be organised by American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh and US Embassy in Bangladesh at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in the capital. The fair will begin tommorrow.‘Over the years, a number of countries have been suspended from GSP as they failed to maintain GSP requirements. In most of the cases, countries regain their status as they have taken steps to address the issues,’ he said.The US supeneded GSP facility for Bangladesh in 2013.The US envoy said that Bangladesh had agreed with the United States on an action plan that listed specific actions that the country would fulfill.‘We are working with the Bangladesh government and we love to see GSP is reinstated in the country,’ he said.The US business interest in Bangladesh has been rising in recent years as the number of queries from US businesses has increased significantly over the last couple of years, he said.US embassy economic officer Jim Town said, ‘We think we are getting closer, but not there yet. The safety issues have improved, but there should have more improvements in the workplaces.’AmCham president Md Nurul Islam said that the trade show would enhance trade relations between Bangladesh and the United States.It will showcase American products and services available in Bangladesh, he said.Forty-six exhibitors including consumer goods producers, education institutions and information technology companies will be participating in the show, he said.Organisations like Apple (iphone), APC, Cisco, Coca-Cola, MasterCard International, Visa, IBM, HP, Nior, Havard University, US embassy-Dhaka, Ford Motor Company and Chevron Corporation will participate in the trade show, he added.The fair will remain open from 10:00am to 8:00pm. The entry fee of the fair has been set at Tk 30 a person, but students in uniform and identity cards will enjoy free access.There will be attractive prizes for a few lucky winners from visitors based on a raffle draw of entry ticket coupons after the trade show.Former AmCham president Aftab Ul Islam was also present, among others, at the breifing.
