Chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Robert Menendez has made it clear that he cannot support renewal or expansion of GSP facility for Bangladesh as long as union organisers and members are harassed and intimated.
In a letter to BGMEA president Atiqul Islam, the senator urged Bangladesh garment manufacturers to take immediate steps to end the harassment and intimidation of union organisers and members by the garment factory owners in his industry association.
Washington suspended GSP facility for Bangladesh in June last year on the ground of poor labour condition and the hearing of renewal of the facility is expected to be held in May.
Bangladesh is supposed to submit a report on the progress of labour condition in the country to the hearing committee by April 15.
In February, Menendez held a hearing on workers’ rights in Bangladesh and released a report on the topic last November.
Menendez in his letter to the BGMEA president said last year he urged the United States Trade Representative to suspend generalised system of preferences benefits to Bangladesh because of the dire state of workers’ rights and safety.
He alleged that union organisers and leaders in BGMEA factories are still subject to intimidation and termination.
“Just last month, four union organisers, including two women, were reportedly severely injured by two dozen attackers as they tried to organise workers in a large garment factory.”
Incidents like these are completely unacceptable and the BGMEA is obligated to play a stronger role in preventing them, Menendez wrote.
About the GSP Action Plan, he said the plan requires the “protection of unions and their members from anti-union discrimination and reprisal.”
Meanwhile, the BGMEA had submitted a written testimony where it detailed its work plan to deal with the issue.
“In your written testimony, you mentioned that the BGMEA is forming a new department to deal with workers’ rights, recruiting a labor consultant, and preparing a plan to educate factory owners and workers on the labor law. I welcome these initial steps, but more can and should be done,” Menendez said.
