Meeting on labour rights in Bangladesh 20 Oct

On 20 October, one-and-a-half year after the tragic collapse of the Rana Plaza factory in Bangladesh, the International Labour Office (ILO), the European Commission (EC) and the Governments of Bangladesh and the US organize a high-level meeting titled “Staying Engaged – for continuous improvements in labour rights and factory safety in the ready-made garment and knitwear industry in Bangladesh”.

 This meeting will take stock of the progress made on the implementation of the Sustainability Compact agreed upon by the ILO, the EC, the Governments of Bangladesh and the US in July 2013, with the objective of improving health, safety, labour rights and responsible business conduct in Bangladesh’s ready-made garment industry.

Keynote speeches will be delivered by Mr László Andor, European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, Ms Sandra Polaski, Deputy Director-General for Policy, ILO, Mr Tofail Ahmed, Commerce Minister of Bangladesh, H.E. Daniel Mozena, United States Ambassador to Bangladesh, Ms Sandra Gallina, Director, DG Trade, European Commission.

The members of the Sustainability Compact and representatives of the “Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety” and of the “Bangladesh Accord on Fire and Building Safety” will take part in the meeting, together with workers, employers, manufacturers, retailers and civil society organisations.