The European Commission (EC), an institution of the European Union (EU) responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the EU treaties, has threatened Bangladesh of the GSP facility withdrawal yet again over the labour rights situation in the country.
The European Commission has issued the warning in its recent report on the effects of GSP and the special incentive arrangement for sustainable development and good governance (GSP+) covering 2016-17 to the European Parliament and the council.
In the report, the European Commission has recapitulated its concern over the labour rights’ situation mainly in respect of freedom of association and successful implementation of the ‘Compact’ in the readymade garment sector of Bangladesh.
The report, published in January 2018, also warned of taking steps, including launching an investigation to improve the situation ahead of the withdrawal of the existing trade facility under the GSP.
The Commission in particular raised the alignment of the Bangladesh Labour Act (BLA) and the Export Processing Zone (EPZ) Act with the ILO labour rights conventions as one of the priority actions.
Earlier in March 2017, the Commission warned Bangladesh of temporary withdrawal of the preferential trade facility if it fails to address labour rights issues in line with the ILO recommendations and comes up with a proper plan of action in this regard within a certain timeframe.