ILO Deputy Director General Houngbo addresses European Parliament on Bangladesh garment industry
On 17 September 2013, the ILO Deputy Director General for fields operations and partnerships, Gilbert Houngbo, addressed the European Parliament International Trade Committee (INTA) on labour conditions and health and safety standards at work in Bangladesh.
On 17 September 2013, the ILO Deputy Director General for fields operations and partnerships, Gilbert Houngbo, addressed the European Parliament International Trade Committee (INTA) on labour conditions and health and safety standards at work in Bangladesh.
The Committee held an exchange of views with the Ambassador of Bangladesh, H.E. Ms Ismat Jahan, and ILO Deputy Director-General, Mr. Gilbert Houngbo, who led the ILO high-level mission to Bangladesh, Ms Monika Hencsey, Head of Unit for Trade and Sustainable Development at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Trade, as well as representatives of EURATEX and the Foreign Trade Association.
Mr. Houngbo underlined the importance of the Global Sustainability Compact initiated by the European Commission, and signed by the EC, the Government of Bangladesh and ILO on 8 July 2013 and joined by the USA. He welcomed the initiatives of the Commission and the European Parliament to provide assistance to Bangladesh. These efforts help the government, social partners and international community to maintain the momentum to make the changes, Mr. Houngbo said.
He applauded the positive exchanges with the government of Bangladesh as well as the steps taken by the country to implement the reforms enshrined in the Compact, like the adoption of the amended Labour Law on 15th July 2013. At the same time, he expressed that major areas remain to be addressed in the further reform of the labour law, including the reduction of the 30 per cent minimum membership requirement to form a union.
The Committee held an exchange of views with the Ambassador of Bangladesh, H.E. Ms Ismat Jahan, and ILO Deputy Director-General, Mr. Gilbert Houngbo, who led the ILO high-level mission to Bangladesh, Ms Monika Hencsey, Head of Unit for Trade and Sustainable Development at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Trade, as well as representatives of EURATEX and the Foreign Trade Association.
Mr. Houngbo underlined the importance of the Global Sustainability Compact initiated by the European Commission, and signed by the EC, the Government of Bangladesh and ILO on 8 July 2013 and joined by the USA. He welcomed the initiatives of the Commission and the European Parliament to provide assistance to Bangladesh. These efforts help the government, social partners and international community to maintain the momentum to make the changes, Mr. Houngbo said.
He applauded the positive exchanges with the government of Bangladesh as well as the steps taken by the country to implement the reforms enshrined in the Compact, like the adoption of the amended Labour Law on 15th July 2013. At the same time, he expressed that major areas remain to be addressed in the further reform of the labour law, including the reduction of the 30 per cent minimum membership requirement to form a union.