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the complainants claimed, adding,“ The GSP negatively conditions benefits on respect for human rights, and provides a tool for the European Commission to ensure that economic development does not leave workers behind. The Commission has urged Bangladesh to improve conditions, but has not launched a formal investigation concerning Bangladesh’ s GSP status. In this complaint, we argue that the Commission’ s failure to investigate the status of Bangladesh under the GSP constitutes maladministration.”
Another report filed by Penn State Center for Global Workers’ Rights( CGWR) titled Binding Power: The Sourcing Squeeze, Workers’ Rights, and Building Safety in Bangladesh Since Rana Plaza( dated March 22, 2018) maintains: Despite more than two decades of private voluntary approaches to address workers’ rights abuses in apparel supply chains, workers in the lower production tiers continue to face poor working conditions and chronic violations of their rights. Bangladesh has been emblematic of low wages, poor working conditions, union-avoidance, and a series of mass fatality disasters in garment
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factories, culminating in the collapse of Rana Plaza in 2013 … This report finds that gains have been severely limited with regard to wages, overtime hours, and work intensity partly due to the sourcing practices of the brands and retailers that sit at the top of global supply chains. A partial exception is in the area of associational rights, where, in the aftermath of Rana Plaza, rising pressure from the European Union, the United States, and international organisations resulted in minor pro-union labour reforms. These reforms, combined with the tenacity of workers and their organising efforts, resulted in an increase in the number of recognised unions. However, in recent years, union growth has once again stagnated, indicating the need for continued international pressure and for an expansion of the capacity of garment sector unions. This report finds one area where gains for workers have been dramatic: building safety. This is largely the result of an unprecedented binding agreement – the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh. |
An investigation by the WRC has found that in late March through mid-April 2018, the management of Shahi Exports was engaged in a campaign of vicious repression and retaliation against workers’ exercise of fundamental labour rights, claimed the Worker Rights Consortium Assessment Shahi Exports Pvt. Ltd.( Bangalore, India) Findings And Recommendations. |
Brands not spared!
Latest report on workplace safety slams GAP, H & M, Walmart for gender-based violence in Asian factories
The Asia Floor Wage Alliance( AFWA) has come up with three separate reports which claim that the women workers who work at the supplier units of leading fashion retail players like H & M, GAP Inc. and Walmart are at risk of assault, sexual abuse, and other harassment every day. Notably, AFWA is a global coalition of trade unions, workers and human rights that is actively working to enhance the lives of garment factory workers in the Asian countries.
The reports by the association claim to have evidence based on the investigation that took place between January and May this year in nine production hubs across India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Cambodia that proves gender-based violence taking place in H & M, Walmart and GAP Inc. apparel supplying factories. The AFWA has presented the results of its investigation
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