Statement by EU Commissioners Malmström, Thyssen and Mimica on the 3rd anniversary of the Rana Plaza tragedy

• DHAKA,April 25 (NsNewsWire) — The following is the full and unedited text of a statement by EU Commissioners Malmström, Thyssen and Mimica on the 3rd anniversary of the Rana Plaza tragedy:

  “On Sunday 24 April 2016, it will be exactly three years since the collapse of the Rana Plaza garment

  factory in Dhaka, Bangladesh, a tragic event that claimed more than 1,100 lives.

  Our thoughts today go first of all to the relatives who lost their loved ones, to the injured and all those

  affected by the Rana Plaza tragedy. But this is also time to look back at what has already been done in

  those last three years to improve the situation of Bangladeshi garment workers.

  The active engagement of the EU, Bangladesh and other concerned partners has brought tangible

  progress on the ground. A number of labour rights are better protected in Bangladesh today than they

  were two years ago. The building and workplace safety have also improved. The Bangladesh

  Sustainability Compact opened a dialogue and supported exchanges with stakeholders, including trade

  unions, employers, buyers and NGOs in the EU, as well as in Bangladesh.

  Nevertheless, essential reforms – not least as regards the effective respect of trade union rights and

  promotion of genuine social dialogue – are still needed to ensure a better future for Bangladeshi

  garment industry workers.

  As a partner in the Bangladesh Sustainability Compact, the EU – together with the government of

  Bangladesh, the International Labour Organisation (ILO), and the governments of the US and Canada –

  regularly assesses progress and contributes to setting priorities for future work, with a view to foster

  respect for fundamental labour rights and ensure worker safety and health in the Bangladeshi garment

  sector.

  The EU sees still an urgent need to swiftly investigate and prosecute all acts of anti-union

  discrimination, including in export zones. Trade union registration must be transparent and carried out

  expeditiously in accordance with objective criteria and unfair labour practices have to be effectively

  prevented. The Government of Bangladesh has shown a clear commitment but more work remains as

  well as regards labour inspections. Repairs and remediation plans in all factories have notably still to be

  effectively and diligently implemented. To serve this purpose, the EU and other donors have mobilised

  funds that are available to companies facing financing difficulties, in particular SMEs.

  In the coming weeks, the EU will publish a third report on the implementation of the Compact, which

  will provide a detailed overview of achievements and of work that remains to be done.

  Close cooperation of all actors is the most effective way forward. Their commitment has been and will

  remain key in driving progress. All need to stay engaged in order to promote decent working conditions

  for Bangladeshi garment workers. Our joint work must continue in the long-term.

  The EU’s commitment remains unchanged: the EU will remain closely engaged to bring lasting

  improvements to Bangladesh’s garment industry and ensure that the EU’s open market helps to spur

  prosperity into the country.

  To improve the responsible management of the supply chain in the garment sector is an important

  issue not just in Bangladesh, but equally in other countries. In order to discuss what action is needed,

  which initiatives are already ongoing and whether there would be added value of complementary action

  at the EU, the Commission will host a high-level conference next week. “

  Background

  In reaction to the collapse of the Rana Plaza factory in April 2013, the Government of Bangladesh, the

  International Labour Organisation (ILO), the European Union and the United States launched a joint

  initiative known as the “Compact for Continuous Improvements in Labour Rights and Factory Safety in

  the Ready-Made Garment and Knitwear Industry in Bangladesh”. Given its involvement in the same

  supply chains and its own efforts to promote sustainable sourcing, Canada decided to join the initiative

  as of 2016.

  The Compact outlines concrete commitments in respect of labour rights, in particular freedom of

  association and the right to collective bargaining, as well as structural integrity of factory buildings,

  occupational safety and health, and promotion of responsible business conduct.