The readymade garment (RMG) sector in Bangladesh can avoid self-destruction if the GSP Action Plan is fulfilled, said the US Ambassador to Bangladesh.
Ambassador Dan Mozena was commenting Wednesday on Bangladesh’s economy, and said: “I believe the suspension of GSP privileges and Bangladesh’s fulfillment of the GSP Action Plan to regain those privileges will save Bangladesh’s RMG sector from self-destruction.”
By complying with the GSP Action Plan, Bangladesh would be able to ensure that all factories comply with minimum standards of labour rights, fire safety and structural requirements, to prevent a repeat of disasters such as Rana Plaza and Tazreen Fashions, he said.
Mozena said that he was afraid if GSP had not been suspended then nothing would have been done to improve working conditions, which would have set the stage for another disaster.
He stated: “Can you imagine the impact of another Rana Plaza?” and said that would be catastrophic for the RMG sector.
US President Barack Obama suspended GSP facilities for Bangladesh on June 27. An action plan or roadmap has been drawn up to enable Bangladesh to regain them.
“I think Bangladesh is making progress in addressing the points in the Action Plan for restoring the GSP privileges,” said Mozena.
Bangladesh is now seriously engaged in addressing the issues raised in the Action Plan to reinstate GSP, he said, and added: “The first review of this progress will be in December. I don’t know whether Bangladesh will have made sufficient progress by then or not. The second review will be in June 2014.”
