Brussels, 16/09/2013 (Agence Europe) - European Commissioner for Trade Karel De Gucht is calling for determined action from the Bangladeshi government, and warns of the risk of a suspension of trade preferences.
Quoted by German Zeit Online on 13 September, De Gucht reaffirms his desire for increased monitoring of the trade industry in Bangladesh by the country's authorities. “The Bangladeshi government must ensure that textile factories are regularly inspected and comply with international safety standards”, he states, warning of the risk of a suspension of the trade preferences that Bangladesh enjoys through the Everything But Arms mechanism. De Gucht even goes as far as demanding the complete closure of some factories by the Bangladeshi authorities.
Following the collapse of the Rana Plaza complex in Savar at the end of April - the latest tragic episode in a series of industrial accidents in Bangladesh - the EU has taken the initiative, with the ILO - of a sustainability pact committing the Bangladeshi government and ready-to-wear industry to improving work and safety conditions in the country. The pact depends on a labour law reform in Bangladesh, action to improve the safety of buildings housing ready-to-wear factories by June 2014, and the recruitment of 200 additional inspectors by the end of 2013 to assess the working conditions in factories - including safety, health and compliance with labour law. (EH/transl.fl)