A decision to withdraw the EU GSP for Bangladesh must be avoided, as it would have far-reaching consequences for jobs and for the economy: EU
The European Union has expressed the opinion that a decision to withdraw the Generalised System of Preferences for Bangladesh should be avoided as such an action could have far-reaching consequences on the country’s economy and employment.
“The GSP provided by the EU benefits all products from Bangladesh under its Everything But Arms (EBA) scheme. This means that a decision to withdraw the EU GSP for Bangladesh must be avoided, as it would have far-reaching consequences for jobs and for the economy,” said an EU release.
It said preferential access to the EU market has greatly helped socioeconomic development in Bangladesh over the years, and this should be preserved as the EU wishes to remain engaged on labour rights issues within Bangladesh. The EU will closely follow the ILO’s work in monitoring progress in efforts by stakeholders to improve labour conditions in Bangladesh this year and in 2014.
The EU aims to uphold fundamental human rights, of which adhering to core labour standards is an intrinsic part. “This is why the EU is lending maximum support to the ILO process. The EU will also act in full respect of its WTO commitment to avoid discrimination.”
EU Trade Commissioner De Gucht will be hosting a meeting in Geneva on July 8, which will be attended by high-level representatives from the government of Bangladesh, the ILO and the US government.
There will also be representatives from the BGMEA, leading buyers and trade unions.
The meeting, titled: “Staying Engaged – A Sustainability Compact with Bangladesh,” will focus on agreeing on labour rights, safety and health at work, and responsible business conduct.
Following the recent factory disasters in Bangladesh, Commissioner De Gucht met Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni on May 28, to shape a response which would address the problems in the country.
Source: DhakaTribune
