Dhaka presents firm position on labour rights (AFL-CIO highlighted the violations of labour rights)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=6817

Dhaka presented its firm position at the first hearing on Generalised System of Preference (GSP) facilities for Bangladeshi products at the US Trade Representative's (USTR) office in Washington saying that it provides and protects maximum labour rights in all the industries.

"Bangladesh fully recognises that improving the lives of its workforce and safeguarding their labour rights are mutually reinforcing objectives in building a modern nation," said M Humayun Kabir, Bangladesh ambassador to US.

Humayun sought assistance from the international community to enhance capacity to further improve labour rights situation in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh embassy in Washington in a press release said the hearing is the beginning of a year-long review process that will examine verbal and written submissions and testimonies by all parties as well as determine the actual progress on the ground to come to a conclusion on an appeal by a US rights group for withdrawal of the GSP facilities for Bangladesh.

Ms Marideth Joy Sandler, executive director of GSP programme at the USTR, chaired the hearing.

Mr Jeffrey Vogt, global economic specialist of the rights body American Federation of Labour and Congress of Industrial Organisations (AFL-CIO), in defence of their petition highlighted the violations of labour rights in the export processing zones (EPZs), in ready made garment (RMG) and shrimp industries in Bangladesh.

snip

The AFL-CIO made the appeal alleging that Bangladesh does not allow labour rights in its EPZs.


FULL story at link.