WASHINGTON: Bangladesh must do more to support workers’ rights and fight unfair labour practices before officials consider restoring US trade benefits, the US Trade Representative’s office said on Friday.

The United States revoked trade benefits for Bangladesh in mid-2013 after a garment factory collapse and a factory fire killed more than 1,200 people.

An administration review found that, although more than 2,000 safety reviews of factories had been carried out in the last year, several hundred more still had to be done.

“We also urge the government to accelerate its efforts to ensure workers’ rights and to take measures to address continuing reports of harassment and violence against labour activists who are attempting to exercise their rights,” US Trade Representative Michael Froman said.

Suspending trade benefits did not directly hit Bangladesh’s multi-billion-dollar clothing exports, but affected exports of other goods, including tobacco and sports equipment.

Published in Dawn, January 18th, 2015

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