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EU to give duty free market access to 48 LDCs by 2002

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November 14, 2000 

Dhaka-- (UNB) - The European Union will give duty free market access to 48 least developed countries (LDCs) by 2002.

Head of the EU delegation in Dhaka Antonio de' Souza Menezes yesterday reiterated the Union's earlier decision at a seminar on labour problems in the readymade garments sector.

At the same time, he also reminded of European consumers' increasing concerns about issues like environment, human rights and good governance in the countries of origin.

Bangladesh garment sector, which successfully engineered trade relations between Bangladesh and the EU, would have to be responsive to the sensitivity of buyers from the developed countries, Menezes advised.

Labour and Employment Minister MA Mannan inaugurated the day-long seminar on "Labour problems in the RMG sector and possible solutions," organised jointly by Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and Bangladesh Garment Workers Unity Council (BGWUC) at Hotel Purbani.

Trade union leader Nurul Islam, BGMEA president Anisur Rahman Sinha and BGWUC president Delwar Hossain Khan also spoke at the seminar.

The European diplomat attached EC's commitment to provide technical assistance to the LDCs to help them respond to the changing market demands of developed countries.

Bangladesh sent 34 proposals for trade related technical assistance early this year, but those did neither consist of any coherent policy, nor reflect any serious attempt for practical follow-up, Menezes pointed out.

Since the WTO's Seattle ministerial meet failed, he said, the European nations favour a new comprehensive round of trade negotiations to support the LDCs to design appropriate policies for maximising benefits from trade liberalisation and diminishing its negative impacts.

"A new round of trade negotiation is the best instrument for ensuring participation of both developed and least developed countries in global economy," he said.

Labour and Employment Minister MA Mannan felt that strong action plans and speedy implementation are vital for surviving the tough competition of the global market.

Moreover, he said, no industry could stand without a good working relation between owners and workers.

The minister called upon the BGMEA leaders to resolve workers' problems through negotiations and set rules for mutual benefits.

He expressed concern over the fire incidents in garment factories claiming many lives and reminded the BGMEA leadership of its previous commitment to undertake fire safety precautions.

A government-BGMEA committee in 1997 decided that each garment factory must have an emergency fire exit and fire extinguishing devices.

Mannan told the BGMEA leadership to inspect whether all factories have executed the decision.

The minister appreciated BGMEA's health service schemes for garment workers and hoped it would expand more.

BGMEA president Anisur Rahman Sinha recognised the importance of a balanced management based on good working relations between owners and workers to increase skills and productivity of industrial labourers and.

He felt the need of a working environment in which labourers get inspiration to work more.

Sinha listed the initiatives taken up by BGMEA for health, training and housing of garment workers.