EU delegation visits Bangladesh to review GSP continuation standards

To be eligible for the EU’s new GSP scheme under its Everything But Arms arrangement from 2024, Bangladesh has formulated a nine-point action plan with a target to execute it by 2026.

The plan stipulates that child labour be eliminated by 2025, workers be given easy access to trade unions and collective bargaining agreements (CBAs), workers in one factory be allowed to join trade unions of other factories and labour court cases should be disposed of quickly.

However, Bangladesh is lagging behind in implementing the plan, which the EU had recently pointed to in a letter.

Led by EU MP Heidi Hautala, the 11-member delegation will meet commerce minister Tipu Munshi, law minister Anisul Haque, state minister for labour and employment Begum Monnujan Sufian, parliament speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury and state minister for foreign affairs Shahriar Alam.

The delegation will meet representatives from the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association and the Bangladesh Employers' Federation. It will also separately meet trade union leaders, International Labour Organisation officials and members of civil society organisations.

The delegation will also visit Aman Spinning Mills Limited, SKF Pharmaceuticals Limited and the Jute Diversification Promotion Centre.

"Waiting for the implementation of the EPZ Labour Rules is not needed. We therefore look forward to a concrete adjusted timeline for amending the EPZ Labour Act," EU's director general of trade Ewa Synowiec, director general of employment Jordi Curell and deputy managing director for Asia and Pacific Paola Pamaloni were quoted as saying by Bangla media reports.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)