On the second anniversary of the Rana Plaza building collapse, Socialists and Democrats remember the victims and push for decent working conditions for the 4 million workers of the textile industry in Bangladesh.
They also call on international brands present to pay the compensation they owe to the survivors and the relatives of the victims. The 8.5 million USD is nothing for companies whose profits number in the billions of dollars.
Next week a European Parliament resolution put forward by the S&D Group acknowledges some improvements, including the fact that 29 factories which have been permanently closed in Bangladesh because they didn’t meet minimum safety standards, but demands stronger action from the government.
The Bangladeshi government has failed to make necessary changes to the Bangladesh Labour Act in 2013, which contains numerous obstacles to the exercise of freedom of association and collective bargaining, the prohibition of trade unions in the Export Processing Zones (EPZ) authority and the lack of effective labour inspection for the enforcement of labour standards.
Socialists and Democrats also criticised the fact that members of trade unions have suffered discrimination and dismissal and that there have been reprisals against newly founded trade unions.
David Martin MEP, who is the S&D spokesperson on international trade, said:
"While we welcome the closure of unsafe factories in Bangladesh, which did not meet minimum standards, we want to see a full reform of the Bangladesh Labour Act to ensure safe buildings and robust health and safety legislation can support vital jobs in the garments industry. To achieve this, the S&D Group is calling on the Bangladesh government to take much stronger action. International companies have a moral obligation to treat their workers with respect: starting with proper compensation being paid to survivors who have waited too long already. It is a disgrace that, after months of stalling, companies have offered little or no contributions to the Rana Plaza Donor Trust Fund, given the extent of their involvement."
Agnes Jongerius MEP, S&D spokesperson on this issue, said:
"The textile industry needs to take responsibility for this tragedy, as well as for the safety and wellbeing of the 4 million Bangladeshi textile workers – of which 80% are women. The Bangladeshi government needs to ensure that this is being done adequately by the industry, and that workers can make use of their right to form trade unions. Only then can people stand up for themselves and face up to employers who let them work under dangerous and inhumane conditions."
