Chances of trade sanctions are low; penalties at the individual level are possible, says Mostafa Abid Khan
Entrepreneurs say labour conditions in Bangladesh’s garment industry have not reached a level that would prompt the United States or any other country to impose sanctions. Instead, they believe that any sanctions that may be imposed would be for political reasons.
“The labour situation has not yet reached a point where sanctions are warranted. If any sanctions are imposed, it would be for the purpose of achieving political interests, not due to labour rights,” said Mohammad Hatem, executive president of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), at a seminar yesterday.
“We have nothing to do with any sanctions if they are imposed for political reasons,” he said at the event held at the Economic Reporters’ Forum office in the capital. “If the government tries to resolve the issue diplomatically, we will assist in that.”
Fazlee Shamim Ehsan, vice president of BKMEA, echoed the sentiment.
“The prevailing situation is political, so it should be negotiated and resolved diplomatically. It’s not possible through the owners or the workers,” he said, adding, “If there is something behind the scenes, they (the government) have to resolve it.”
At the seminar, Amirul Haque Amin, president of the National Garment Workers Federation, said, “How many of the ILO conventions have the countries that want sanctions ratified? They have only ratified two of the core conventions, and we have ratified eight.”
“Those who have not ratified six out of the eight fundamentals, if they come to impose sanctions on Bangladesh or any other country, pointing at labour rights, then it will not be democratic. It must be said that there is another agenda.”
He further stated, “What they want, they don’t mean it themselves. Through this, they want to control other countries.”
“Bangladesh has no reason to be afraid,” he emphasised, pointing out, “We are not in such a bad position to fall under sanctions. Our labour situation has improved considerably.”
“Are the labour conditions in the US better than ours?” he also questioned at one stage of the speech.
However, another labour leader, Towhidur Rahman, disagreed with Amirul Haque Amin’s statement.
Towhidur, former secretary-general of the IndustriALL Bangladesh Council, believes, “The memorandum of the United States must be taken into consideration because it is a global business.”
“To sustain the business, if it does not comply with global labour standards, if the US memorandum is not taken into account, or if the National Action Plan is not implemented according to European Union guidelines, I think there is a dark cloud in the western sky,” he asserted.
Rahman mentioned that four workers died in the wage hike movement, and the reason for their deaths has not yet been investigated. “If any murder is not investigated, then we will not get justice,” he expressed concern.
“115 workers are in jail in 43 cases. About 25,000 workers have been made defendants,” he pointed out, urging employers to help form trade unions.
Referring to the seven regional leaders still in prison, he questioned, “Why would members of the law enforcement agencies want to know their personal information?”
He accused the labour ministry and the labour department of widespread corruption.
The factory owners’ representative, Fazlee Shamim Ehsan, agreed with the complaint against the government authorities.
Mostafa Abid Khan, an economist and former member of the Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission, said, “According to the US memorandum, trade sanctions are less likely because, under the provisions of the WTO, it is not easy to impose sanctions, nor is there a chance to raise tariffs.”
“There may be a penalty against individuals,” he suggested, advocating for a proactive role rather than a reactive or fearful stance on the issue.
“Organisations working on international labour issues feel that the government and the private sector are speaking in the same tone. Then it is not tripartite,” he pointed out.
ANM Saifuddin, former BGMEA director and chairman of the standing committee on ILO and labour affairs, also spoke.
The seminar, “Current Labour Issues and International Scenario”, was moderated by ERF General Secretary Abul Kashem and presided over by its President, Refayet Ullah Mridha. ***
