Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed yesterday slammed the US congressmen for sending a letter to the prime minister, seeking her assurance to facilitate proper investigation into the allegation of intimidation and violence on workers leader at Valuka, brought by the National Garment Workers Federation (NGWF).
Terming the letter is nothing but a politically-motivated one, Tofail said there has been no reflection with the real status of the country’s apparel sector in the letter by six congressmen, who had also lodged complaints against the commerce minister and the BGMEA chief for “intimidating” the RMG trade union leaders.
He was talking to the reporters after a meeting with the US ambassador to Bangladesh Dan Mozena at his secretariat office in the capital.
Strongly criticising the US congressmen, Tofail said, “It is also indecent for the congressmen and the government will send a letter to them by this week to clarify the real situation in RMG sector in Bangladesh.
The minister, however, expressed his optimism over the restoration of GSP facilities in the US market as the government has met most of the conditions set by the US administration.
“Bangladesh has made tremendous progress in RMG sector and more regress is needed in critical areas such as many more factory needs to be inspected, labour inspectors to be hired, progress in publicly assessable data base, which exists currently,” said Dan Mozena.
He also stressed on stopping unfair labor practices, most especially crackdowns on labour activists, which are not acceptable and must stop immediately.
“Important progress has been made in the apparel sector, there would be another review for the GSP in December and I am very hope full that progress will continue at the current phase and there would be different picture in December, said Mozena replying to a question on restoration of GSP facilities for Bangladesh.
Mozena said the RMG sector would transform in terms of fire safety, factory structural soundness, respect for workers' rights for freedom of association transformation of the RMG.
Six members of the US Congress have recently sought Prime Minister Shiekh Hasina's assurance to facilitate proper investigation into the allegation of intimidation and violence on workers leader at Valuka, brought by the National Garment Workers Federation (NGWF).
In a recent letter, sent to the US Senators, NGWF claimed that labour leaders are brutally assaulted by musclemen for their attempt to organise union.