The United States has called on Bangladesh to align its labour laws in the garment sector with international standards, emphasising the need for significant legal reforms. This push comes as part of the 2025 Trade Policy Agenda and the 2024 Annual Report released by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR).
The USTR acknowledges strides made by Bangladesh in improving worker safety over the past decade but insists that further reforms are necessary to ensure compliance with global labour standards. During an intersessional meeting of the US-Bangladesh Trade and Investment Cooperation Forum Agreement (Ticfa) Council held in Dhaka on 21st April 2024, the US presented a Labour Action Plan aimed at addressing critical issues such as violence and harassment, unfair labour practices, and the rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining.
Key among the recommendations is the need to amend the Bangladesh Labour Act to meet international benchmarks and to establish a fair and transparent minimum wage process for garment workers.
The US’s concerns about worker rights in Bangladesh’s garment industry stem from the aftermath of the Rana Plaza disaster in 2013, which led to the suspension of Bangladesh’s Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) trade benefits. In 2024, USTR officials conducted discussions with government representatives, trade unions, NGOs, and apparel manufacturers in Dhaka to focus on necessary labour reforms within the ready-made...
Dive Brief: A federal judge has ordered CVS to pay $948.8 million in penalties and damages in a whistleblower case alleging that the company’s Omnicare division illegally charged the U.S. governm...