US ambassador in Dhaka Dan Mozena said on Thursday that those garment owners who were unwilling to comply with international safety and labour rights standards should “close and leave” the sector.
He also called upon the garment owners and exporters body, BGMEA, to ensure that “all owners are part of the solution to transform the sector”.
The envoy was speaking at a certificate giving ceremony to the officials who were trained up on the new Bangladesh Labour Act.
He made the comment as he observed that some owners had ignored the need to transform the sector in the wake of tragic Rana Plaza incident last year and Tazreen Fashion fire in 2012 that together killed more than 12,00 workers.
The US suspended Bangladesh’s GSP privilege in its market that selective products were enjoying and rolled out an action plan and based on its implementation it will decide to reinstate the privilege.
The government said it had implemented 13 of the 16- point action plan while the commerce ministry assured it would implement the rest before submission of the report in mid-April.
The envoy lauded those owners who were complying international standards, but said those who were neglecting the transformation of the sector would attribute to more Tazreen fashions fires and Rana Plaza building collapses.
“…but they are now focused on maximising their profits,” he said and that if the sector collapses in the future, these owners would “simply take their profits and shift elsewhere”.
“…..I think they have no right to make their profits by exploiting their workers, thus putting the entire sector at risk of inevitable future Tazreen fashions and Rana Plaza disasters, destroying the brand Bangladesh”.
The envoy appreciated government’s move towards fulfilling the needs for factory safety and ensure labour rights, but said more remains to be done.
He particularly pointed out the need to hire 200 new inspectors, and establish a database of factory inspections that will be accessible to all.
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) organised the two-day training with 30 labour department officials in Dhaka.
They were updated with the new revised Labour Act that allows free association of workers.
Source: Bd news24