US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Robert Menendez has made it clear that he cannot support renewal of the GSP as long as harassment and intimidation of trade union organisers and members continue.
In a letter to BGMEA President Atiqul Islam, the senator urged Bangladeshi garment manufacturers to take immediate steps in this regard.
Washington suspended GSP facility for Bangladesh in June last year on grounds of poor labour conditions. The hearing on renewal of the facility is expected in May. Bangladesh is supposed to place a report on the progress made in terms of labour condition by April 15.
Menendez said he had urged the United States Trade Representative last year to suspend the generalised system of preferences (GSP) benefits for Bangladesh because of poor workers’ rights and safety conditions.
“Just last month, four union organisers, including two women, were reportedly severely injured by two dozen attackers as they tried to organise workers at a large garment factory,” the letter said.
He also said incidents like these were unacceptable and the BGMEA was obligated to play a stronger role and Bangladesh’s GSP Action Plan required “protection of unions and their members from anti-union discrimination and reprisal.”
On BGMEA’s written testimony detailing the work plan, he said: “You mentioned that BGMEA is forming a new department to deal with workers’ rights, recruiting a labor consultant, and preparing a plan to educate factory owners. I welcome these initial steps, but more can and should be done.”
When asked about Menendez’s letter, BGMEA Vice-President Shahidullah Azim told the Dhaka Tribune that they had not received any such letter. He said he had come to that it had been posted on the senator’s website.