Asked what rewards the US government is considering for the progress made so far, Li said the US Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) comes with clear statutory requirements and eligibility criteria that apply to all beneficiary countries. Are.
With respect to labor rights, the Trade Act of 1974 requires that GSP beneficiary countries must take steps to uphold internationally recognized labor rights.
These include: freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining; abolition of forced or compulsory labor; establishing a minimum age for the employment of children; implementing commitments to eliminate the worst forms of child labour; and ensuring acceptable working conditions with respect to minimum wages, working hours and occupational safety and health.
Following the 2013 Rana Plaza building collapse, the US suspended GSP benefits due to labor rights violations related to unsafe working conditions and lack of oversight in the RMG sector, restrictions on labor organizing, and violence against workers and trade unions .
For more than a decade, the United States has regularly engaged with Bangladesh on these concerns through the GSP Action Plan, the Sustainability Compact, TICFA, and other dialogues.
“Following the withdrawal of GSP benefits, the United States has recognized that Bangladesh has made progress in improving fire and building safety in the export RMG sector through a legally binding agreement,” Lee said.
He said that despite measurable progress over the past decade on building safety, Bangladesh still lags behind in enforcement of labor laws through inspections and fundamental rights of freedom of association.
As a major bilateral trading partner with Bangladesh, Lee said, the United States wants to see Bangladesh succeed in realizing concrete, measurable progress on labor rights, not only in the apparel sector, but throughout the economy.
This is meant to ensure that workers, including in export processing sectors and special economic zones, have the right to organize and collectively bargain for better wages and safer working conditions.
“It is worth noting that, while our government is investing in Bangladesh to make progress on these important labor rights, we are not alone. The international community is also watching closely, including monitoring and reporting on a time-bound Bangladesh Road Map Including the International Labor Organization,” Lee said.
The U.S. government continues to “support” the government of Bangladesh and social partners – independent trade unions and representatives of the private sector in Bangladesh – to achieve the progress necessary to consider lifting the suspension of GSP benefits.
“Our commitment to continue such support and sincere cooperation with the Bangladesh government and social partners remains firm,” Lee said.