Brussels, 24/04/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 24 April, the second anniversary of the Rana Plaza tragedy, the European Commission published a progress report on the Sustainability Compact - an initiative launched in July 2013 with the EU, US and International Labour Organisation (ILO) to improve work and safety rights in the off-the-peg garment industry in Bangladesh and to promote corporate social responsibility in the supply chain. The European Commission hails “much progress”, but calls on the government of Bangladesh to continue its reforms and speed them up.
In two years, tangible results have been recorded - labour rights in Bangladesh are now better protected thanks to the changes made in July 2013 to its labour law, which have enabled improvements in the rules on freedom of association, collective bargaining and work safety. The number of unions in the garment industry has doubled, with over 300 new unions having been recorded.
The Bangladeshi authorities have also strengthened their factory inspection ability and “real progress” has been recorded on building safety and the workplace. Over 250 inspectors have been trained and deployed and their results have been made public. Out of the total 3,500 garment factories targeted, over 2,500 security inspections have been carried out on the basis of commonly agreed standards. Corrective steps have been taken where shortfalls have been identified, and 32 factories have been closed.
In addition, several projects are under way to promote corporate social responsibility, including two international private sector programmes (one for building safety, the other for workers) and the ILO's Better Work Bangladesh programme. Compensation and rehabilitation have also been assured to the families of the Rana Plaza victims and survivors - and the EU has contributed to this.
However, in the Commission's view, “more must be done”. The Commission expects the Bangladeshi government to renew its involvement so that some of the requirements of the compact can be implemented through legislation and in practice. In the short term, Dhaka should conduct three priority actions - apply the 2013 labour law reforms “urgently”; conduct and launch court cases against unfair labour practices, including discrimination and reprisals and anti-union violence; and take action for labour law in export processing zones.
In the medium term, the Commission expects a new reform on labour rights legislation to bring it fully into conformity with the ILO conventions on the freedom of association and collective negotiations. As regards factory inspections, the Bangladeshi government is asked to increase the resources available for the authorities responsible for building safety and fires, and to prepare to take charge of inspections when the private initiatives expire in 2018.
At a European Parliament conference on 22 April, European Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmström called on brands and retailers to increase their contribution to the Rana Plaza Trust fund. Currently, there is a shortfall of $8.5 million in the $30 million target.
“Some progress has been achieved, but the full implementation of the compact remains indispensable to promote labour rights and to ensure safe working conditions in Bangladesh. At a time when the country is confronted with severe political and social challenges, the Sustainability Compact has the potential for setting an example on how to address the basic needs and legitimate expectations of the people of Bangladesh”, said High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini.
“As we move forward in improving human and labour rights, I hope that Bangladesh can continue to benefit from preferential access to the EU market under the Everything But Arms initiative”, said Malmström. (Emmanuel Hagry)