DHAKA: The European Commission (EC), executive body of European Union, praised the ‘much progress’ in the ready-made garment and knitwear industry of Bangladesh on Monday.

The EC said the country has made ‘much progress’ in improving the country’s labor rights, working conditions and factory safety in the industry since the Rana Plaza factory collapse tragedy on April 2013.

The EC’s appraisal came after László Andor, European Commissioner for employment, social affairs and inclusion, issued a press statement following a Bangladesh Sustainability Compact follow up meeting in Brussels on the day.

The statement said since the Rana Plaza tragedy, the EU has been active to improve labor rights, working conditions and factory safety in the ready-made garment and knitwear industry in the country. 

In a stocktaking meeting on the day, the EU high-ups reviewed the progress made under the Sustainability Compact, an agreement signed by the European Union, Bangladesh, the US and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in July 2013.

There has been much progress since then: labour law has been amended to strengthen freedom of association, collective bargaining and occupational health and safety; new trade unions have been created; more labor, fire and building safety inspections have been carried out, it added.

Pic: Woman-in-Germent

The EC urged for immediate measures to ensure effective enforcement of the Bangladesh Labour Act. It also called government particular attention to the Issues including better guarantees for freedom of association, protection of workers and trade unions from intimidation or discrimination, and ensuring that all workers have the same rights, including those working in Export Processing Zones. 

They gave stress on recruitment of additional inspectors and more continuous inspections at the factories.

And we need to ensure that victims of the collapse receive all the support necessary for their rehabilitation.

László said they would continue to monitor the implementation and results of the Compact and prepares another review in next year. The Commission remains fully committed to pursuing its intense cooperation with Compact partners to achieve further tangible improvements.

The commissioner was convinced that, working together, they can achieve further progress by then, according to the statement.

BDST: 2320 HRS, OCT 20, 2014