Shrimp industry more compliant than before
David John Welsh
The shrimp industry and export processing zones in Bangladesh have made "remarkable progress" in complying with labour standards over the last one year, said David John Welsh, the country programme director of Solidarity Centre, a wing of AFL-CIO.
The American Federation of Labour-Congress of Industrial Organisations (AFL-CIO) filed a petition with the United States Trade Representative against Bangladesh two years ago on charges of labour rules violations by EPZs and shrimp processing plants.
“The shrimp industry has worked hard to make an improvement in child-labour issues and compliance of wages," Welsh said in an exclusive interview with The Daily Star at his Gulshan Office Wednesday.
"They have made remarkable progress."
AFL-CIO, the federation that represents millions of working women and men in the US, launched the American Centre for International Labour Solidarity with a promise to tackle the challenges workers face in the global economy.
Explaining success at EPZs, the US-born labour lawyer said elections to over 165 labour associations in the EPZs were held despite the fact that the EPZs are run by a separate policy.
“This is incredible and this is historic which never took place in Bangladesh (before),” said the lawyer who visits government offices and private firms to discuss the implementation of labour laws.
The progress happened after AFL-CIO filed the petition with the USTR, he said.
“The petition was made to push the government of Bangladesh, those who oversee the EPZs, those who oversee the RMG industry and the shrimp industry to say that unless you begin to comply with your own labour standards you will not enjoy the American market access opportunity,” Welsh said.
He said his organisation's goal was not to ruin the image of Bangladesh abroad, nor to hurt the RMG industry.
The goal is to enforce the country's labour law, Welsh said. He expressed concern over the state of emergency, which he said brought "severe hardships" for workers.
“The state of emergency remained in the country for about two years which enforced a complete ban on trade union activities. And criminal cases against workers have been going up but workers cannot exercise their rights."
Welsh described the readymade garments sector as the poor practitioner of labour compliance. Bangladeshi industries such as knitwear, woven and textile are earning more profit than before, but profit is never shared by workers as much as it is meant to be, he said.
According to the new labour law in Bangladesh, 5 percent of RMG profit is meant for worker benefit but none of the companies follows the rule, he said.
On wages, Welsh alleged that the wage board for readymade garments has seven tiers, not only the minimum pay of Tk 1,660 a month, but most RMG companies do not follow the other stages.
Asked how AFL-CIO will work to implement the issues in the RMG sector of Bangladesh, Welsh said his organisation would work with international companies.
Executives from international brands like Nike, GAP and Rebook are coming to Bangladesh to see for themselves facilities at the factories they outsource their jobs to, he said.
Some international networks in Europe and the US watch Bangladesh closely, Welsh said.
Welsh suggested that BGMEA heighten inspection of labour-law violations.
RMG owners should enforce labour laws for their own benefit as they are lobbying for a bill in the US seeking duty- and quota-free market access, he said.
If the US Congress is not convinced that Bangladesh is complying with international labour standards, the bill will not get through, he said.
Welsh suggested that the companies, which are not complying with labour standards, should not be allowed to operate.
The Solidarity Centre, registered in Bangladesh as an NGO, is working in three areas: readymade garments, shrimp and export processing zones.
Solidarity Centre assists workers, educates them on their legal rights and works closely with international buyers to make sure they also keep checks on suppliers.
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