An international working group will be formed to introduce Labour Law in the Export Processing Zones of Bangladesh under the US Action Plan, said official sources.
Earlier, the Plan asked to form a working group and now the word “international” has been included.
Introducing Labour Law in the EPZs is one of the main conditions set by the US government in its Action Plan to reinstate GSP.
Of the 16-point US Action Plan, Bangladesh government is working now to implement 12 points first including the introduction of Labour Law in the Export Processing Zones, said official sources.
A Cabinet Committee on Readymade Garment will review progress of implementation works at its meeting on Sunday, sad the sources.
According to the official sources, the commerce ministry has already identified some lack of coordination among the government agencies in implementing the Action Plan. The meeting will hold discussion to remove such lack of coordination.
There is still a shortage of inspectors for factories in the country. As per the Action, a number of 200 inspectors require to be appointed as one of the main conditions set by the US government to reinstate GSP by December. But only 35 inspectors have currently appointed by the Labour Ministry under a project.
In the Fire Services and Civil Defense Department, a number of 310 new inspectors will have to be recruited in addition to the existing 50. The Home Ministry is responsible to make these appointments.
As per the working paper for the meeting of cabinet committee on RMG, the government will lift restriction on registration of two NGOs to be working in the field of implementing labour standards.
The NGOs are Bangladesh Center for Woman Solidarity and Social Activate for the Environment.
Besides, the registration of trade unions will begin soon, the paper says.
Under the Action Plan, the government recently withdrew all eight criminal cases against two workers’ leaders- Babul Aktar and Kalpona Aktar.
Further, the home ministry will advance a transparent investigation into the murder of labours’ leader Aminul islam.
The industrial police officers deployed in the RMG factories will be trained to ensure workers’ freedom of association and assembly in line with the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
In addition, the labour ministry will take an initiative to execute a time-based action plan on freedom of association as the US Action Plan has also asked for freedom of association and collective bargaining rights for workers in factories within EPZs, and amendment of the EPZ law in coordination with the ILO.
And the government will have to open a hot line and open data base for trade unions and ensuring labour standard and safety, according to the ministry proposal.
Meanwhile, buyers, ILO and exporters have jointly taken projects to improve working condition and safety standard in the garment factories.
