Staff Reporter :
A high-powered delegation of the United States sat in a crucial meeting with a Commerce Ministry team in Dhaka on Saturday to discuss the progress of readymade garment [RMG] sector in Bangladesh apparently to settle the issue of Generalized System of Preferences [GSP].
The US delegation led by Michael J. Delaney, Assistant US Trade Representative for South & Central Asia, Office of the United States Trade Representative [USTR], arrived in Dhaka earlier in the morning in a prescheduled visit to review the implementation of GSP action plan aimed at revival of the trade facility.
Other members of the delegation are: Michael O’Donovan, director for Labor Affairs of USTR, Bruce Levine, office director, democracy of Human Rights and Labor [DRI] under the U S Department of State and Jennifer Goodyear, International Relations Officer of International Labor Affairs Bureau [ILAB] of the US Department of Labor [USDOL].
The members of the delegation will stay in Dhaka till September 23. During the visit, the delegation will assess the progress made and areas for future improvements to help ensure a successful Sustainability Compact Review meeting in Dhaka to be held in November with the European Union [EU], the International Labor Organization [ILO], the United States, and the Government of Bangladesh, according to US Embassy release.
Meanwhile, the US delegation sat in a meeting with the Commerce Ministry team led by Commerce Secretary Hedayetullah Al- Mamun at state guest house Meghna in the city. From Bangladesh side, Foreign Secretary Shahidul Hoque, Labour and Employment Secretary Michael Shipper, the Director General of Labour Directorate and representatives from Fire Service and Civil Defence [FSCD] attended the meeting.
During the meeting, Bangladesh team focused the progress of 16-point condition earlier imposed by the US authorities. In this regard, Dhaka told the US team that all the 16-point conditions has been fulfilled in the meantime. Bangladesh has amended Labour Law and published gazette after introducing labour rules on September 15.
At the same time, Bangladesh has engaged 235 Labour Inspectors to inspect mills and factories, 218 Inspectors have been employed FSCD and 91 Inspectors have been posted by Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha [RAJUK]. With theses engagement, Bangladesh has fulfilled all 16-point conditions set by US, the Dhaka team told the visiting delegation.
The meeting was informed that of the total 3685 TMG factories, about 3407 factories have already been inspected by Accord, Alliance and national initiatives. Of them, problems were found in 364 factories and those were closed.
The visiting USTR delegation expressed satisfaction over the progress of Bangladesh RMG sector, meeting sources said.
Commerce Ministry officials said, the US delegation will meet with relevant trade bodies, business communities and leaders of labour organizations during their stay in Dhaka. They will also visit some factories and held a meeting with Commerce Minister Tofael Ahmed on September 23.
The US had suspended the GSP facility for Bangladesh in 2013 following two major industrial disasters – Tazrin Fashion fire and Rana Plaza collapse-which left some 1500 workers killed and hundreds more injured some of whom with permanent disability or loss of vital organs like hands, legs and eyes.
Subsequently, the US administration has also asked the Bangladesh government to implement a 16-point action plan to improve workers safety at workplaces and address discrepancies over the labour rights issue for reinstatement of the GSP facility. The ILO, the government and leading retailers and brands are working in Bangladesh to improve workers safety at workplaces.
Commerce Minister Tofael Ahmed recently said all the 16 conditions imposed by the US to regain the GSP facility have been implemented. “Now, we have no issue pending for reinstatement of the GSP facility,” he had said.
