USTR Says Bangladesh's Progress Lacking in GSP Review
The Bangladeshi government and industry have so far failed to complete worker rights and labor improvements necessary for reinstatement into the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), said the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative on July 2 after concluding a review of progress in the country. The Obama administration removed Bangladesh from the GSP program in June 2013, urging the country to improve labor conditions through an action plan.
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The review revealed a number of insufficient worker rights and labor condition reforms, USTR said. “The government is behind schedule in carrying out many hundreds of critical safety inspections in garment factories, as well as meeting its commitments to hire additional inspectors,” said USTR in the statement. “The government has also been slow to respond to continuing reports of harassment and violence against labor activists. The review concluded that the government needs to develop a credible and effective mechanism for responding to and addressing allegations of unfair labor practices.” The Bangladeshi government has also failed to ensure workers in Export Processing Zones are afforded the same rights as workers elsewhere in the country. The administration has recently criticized worker treatment in the zones (see 14042405).
Bangladesh has made some progress, however, said USTR in the statement. Roughly 120 new garment sector unions registered with the government in the past year. The government has also dropped criminal charges on labor activists and continues to cooperate with foreign investors to inspect thousands of garment factors. A series of labor disasters in Bangladesh that claimed upwards of 1,000 lives in the months before June 2013 prompted USTR to remove Bangladesh from the program. The USTR-led committee reviewing Bangladesh's progress will hold its next review in December. The GSP program has been expired since July 31, 2013 (see 14032429). USTR did not immediately respond for further comment.