European parliament wants Bangladesh to be labour law compliant

The European parliament yesterday called on the Bangladesh government to ensure that labour laws are enforced and brought in line with International Labour Organisation standards.

The members of the European parliament in their debate said workers in Bangladesh continue to report harassment and intimidation intended to stop them from joining or forming unions.

Acts of violence against trade union organisers continue to be reported, and the Labour Act of 2013 continues to fall short of international standards with regard to freedom of association, including the right to strike and collective bargaining, they said.

Although the European parliament resolution took note of the reform programmes in the garment industry, it urged the government to fully implement the action plan it agreed on and signed with the ILO in May 2013, including the recruitment and training of inspectors and thorough inspections, with public records, of its factories.

It also urged the signatories to the Bangladesh Accord on Fire and Building Safety to live up to their commitments.

In the resolution adopted in the European parliament yesterday, the parliament members asked that the Donor Trust Fund mechanism be made mandatory, as voluntary company donations have only reached $17 million, leaving $23 million outstanding.

Rana Plaza Coordination Committee created the mechanism to help the victims and survivors of the Rana Plaza factory collapse.