Photo : Messenger
The Ministry of Commerce has received correspondence from the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington alerting them to the recently announced memorandum by US President Joe Biden, emphasising the need to ensure global labour rights.
The embassy has suggested that Bangladesh may come under scrutiny and potentially be targeted by this policy. The memorandum indicates the possibility of imposing sanctions on individuals, organisations, or states in the event of violations of labour rights.
Commerce Ministry’s Senior Secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh, who received the letter, said, “The letter did not hint any warning for Bangladesh’s trade. This is a regular communication.”
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken officially announced on November 16 that after President Biden signed a Presidential Memorandum to empower workers, ensure labour rights and quality of life for workers, sanctions will be imposed, if necessary, on those who go against workers' rights, threaten or intimidate workers.
"Labour issues in Bangladesh were specifically quoted by the Secretary of State and Acting Secretary of Labour at the launching ceremony of the memorandum," the letter said.
On the launching day, Blinken said, US can take steps like sanctions, trade penalties, and visa restrictions.
"As per the 'Memorandum', the US foreign mission would directly interact/deal with labour issues, the policy may encourage interested US diplomats/missions to interfere in many internal/domestic issues," the letter said.
It added, "It seems that there are scopes for this policy to be imposed at individual, firm or state level if they anticipate/believe, the labour' rights are violated."
The political context of the 'Memorandum' has many reasons to be alarmed. Politics is behind what is said about labour rights in the memorandum, and the US would try to use the political purpose in different ways, said the letter.
The memorandum may also have an impact on Bangladesh's apparel sector, and it should be taken into cognizance with priority by the concerned stakeholders, the embassy said.
Regarding the election issue, Bangladesh currently facing the drop of garment export to USA. According to the Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA) USA, during Jan-Sep 2023, the USA cuts import of garments from Bangladesh by 23.33 percent.
Trade leaders are of the opinion that the current political "cold relations" are unlikely to significantly impact Bangladesh's garment trade, given the economic challenges faced by the USA, including inflation.
Muhammad Hatem, Executive Vice President of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) told the Daily Messenger, “No, there is no political issue in exporting of garments in
USA. In fact, American economy still suffering from economic slowdown. The country has decreased importing of garment from all the countries.”
OTEXA data shows, in Jan-Sep 2023, Bangladesh fetched $5.77 billion, in the corresponding year garment export to USA market stood Bangladesh $7.53 billion,
According to OTEXA data, from January to September 2023, Bangladesh fetched $5.77 billion in garment exports. In the corresponding period of the previous year, Bangladesh's garment exports to the USA market amounted to $7.53 billion.
During the period of July to September, Bangladesh achieved a significant milestone by exporting garments worth $2.06 billion, marking a growth of 2.77 percent from the USA market. In the period from July to September, Bangladesh recorded a noteworthy accomplishment by earning $14.78 billion from the global market. This marks a growth of 5.95 percent in the current fiscal year.
Messenger/Disha
