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Joint Statement by EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht and Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr. Dipu Moni following recent disasters in the Bangladeshi garment manufacturing industry

EU News 259/2013

MEMO/13/469
Brussels, 28 May 2013

We came together today and expressed our deepest sorrow to the families of hundreds of workers who lost their lives and others who sustained injuries in the recent tragedy of factory collapse in Savar, Dhaka. Today's meeting has demonstrated our collective determination to work together to improve the labour conditions for the Bangladeshi workers in the Ready-Made Garment industry. The devastating loss of workers' lives in recent factory fires and the collapse of the Rana Plaza building calls for urgency to intensify ongoing efforts to work together in enhancing workers’ rights and safety standards to improve the overall work environment and prevent similar tragedies in future. We express our resolve now to approach a period of deep engagement for all actors involved in the global value chain – namely, global buyers, brands, governments and consumers - to work together in promoting a fair, ethical and responsible supply chain management across the industry.  In this regard, we recall the resolution of the European Parliament adopted on 23 May 2013.

We recognize that the EU’s preferential trade scheme “Everything But Arms” has played an important role in expanding Bangladesh’s export to the EU making it the largest  and major export destination of Bangladesh and thus contributed greatly to economic development, employment, income level, in particular women rights, and most importantly poverty reduction in Bangladesh. We, therefore, pledge to safeguard Everything but Arms benefits through determined action to improve health and occupational safety standards in the export-oriented Ready-Made Garment factories in Bangladesh. We urge foreign buyers, in particular European companies, to remain engaged and work with the EU and Bangladesh to support and promote socially responsible supply chains. A dedicated meeting, to that effect, will take place before this summer to consider the related issues.

Source and additional information:
http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-13-469_en.htm?locale=en

Dipu Moni, on the left, and Karel De Gucht, Date: 28/05/2013 Reference: P-023334/00-02 Location: Brussels - EC/Berlaymont (C)EU, 2013 URL