The government on Sunday finalised a progress report on ‘Bangladesh Action Plan 2013’ to submit it to the office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) as the deadline for the submission expires on Tuesday.
An inter-ministerial meeting held at the Commerce Ministry reviewed the latest progress in line with the Action Plan and finalised the report to send it to the USTR anytime before the deadline expires.
Representatives from Foreign and Labour Ministries were present at the meeting held with Commerce Secretary Mahbub Ahmed in the chair.
However, it is not confirmed yet when the review for reinstating Bangladesh’s Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) benefits in the US market will take place.
The legal authorisation for the GSP programme expired on July 31, 2013 and the US Congress is considering a legislation that would extend the authorisation of GSP beyond this date, according to the USTR.
As long as the GSP programme remains with no authorisation, there will be no public hearing and no request for public comments for the ongoing GSP country and product reviews and no final disposition of these reviews.
According to the progress report, a total of 127 trade unions have been registered with the RMG industry till date since January 2013.
Meanwhile, the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) has been updated into a directorate with 993 posts, including 575 posts for inspectors.
A high-level committee has been formed, led by Senior Secretary of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), which will work to upgrade the EPZ (Export Processing Zones) Act in line with international standard.
Meanwhile, the working group under the high-level committee has prepared a set of recommendations to bring in consistency between the Export Processing Zones Act and Bangladesh Labour Act 2013.
The recommendations will be finalised after discussions with the stakeholders, according to the progress report.
The government has also pledged to ensure transparency in applying the EPZ Workers’ Welfare Association and Industrial Relation Act 2010.
The Commerce Ministry might send the report to the Bangladesh mission in Washington, if not sent directly to the USTR, and the mission will send it to the USTR.
On June 27, 2013, US President Barack Obama announced his decision to suspend Bangladesh’s trade benefits under the GSP in view of insufficient progress by the Bangladesh government in affording Bangladeshi workers internationally-recognised worker rights.
Source: UNBConnect
