Expressing apprehension about the labour and human rights scenario in Bangladesh, the European Union has urged the Bangladesh Government to expedite the implementation of the National Action Plan for the labour sector and the recommendations from the Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review.
This is as per reports, which added the EU emphasised the importance of these actions to maintain duty-free market access to the economic bloc.
As outlined in the second joint Staff Working Document on the EU’s enhanced engagement with GSP beneficiary countries—Bangladesh, Cambodia, and Myanmar—published on 21st November, the EU’s Generalized Scheme of Preferences is contingent on beneficiary countries upholding international standards in human rights, labour rights, environment and climate, and good governance.
The European Commission’s report on the Generalized Scheme of Preferences for the period 2020-2022 identified several concerns related to labour rights, including legal barriers to establishing and operating trade unions, anti-union discrimination, deficiencies in labour inspection, gaps in occupational health and safety implementation, and the persistence of child and forced labour.
