European Union Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht on Thursday said they would make a complete assessment of the Sustainability Compact’s achievements in July this year.
“We’ll have a fuller assessment of the Sustainability Compact’s achievements on its first anniversary in July this year,” said John Clancy, Spokesperson of the EU Trade Commissioner, in a statement on the first anniversary of the Rana Plaza tragedy.
Gucht said they have seen a significant progress in the areas over past months but more must be done.
“The EU remains ready to assist Bangladesh with its reforms, and monitors the implementation of the Sustainability Compact,” said the statement mentioning that substantial progress on labour issues is important for Bangladesh’s continued preferential access to the EU market.
The EU, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the authorities of Bangladesh responded to the tragedy by launching an initiative known as the Sustainability Compact, joined by the US at a later stage. The Sustainability Compact outlines concrete commitments.
The actions that stem from them lead to improved levels of occupational safety and health and promote responsible business conduct and greater respect of labour rights, with a particular focus on freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining.
On this day, one year ago, the collapse of the Rana Plaza factory building in Dhaka, Bangladesh killed more than 1100 people.
The tragedy exposed serious shortcomings in the occupational safety and labour rights of Bangladeshi workers in the export-oriented readymade garment industry.
Source: UNB Connect
