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Sorting shrimp for it to be ready to be transported. (Photo Credit: Sustaining Ethical Aquaculture Trade)
Memorandum of Understanding signed on labour rights
(BANGLADESH, 3/25/2013)
The Bangladesh Frozen Foods Exporters Association (BFFEA), Bangladesh Shrimp and Fish Foundation (BSFF) and American Centre for International Labour Solidarity (ACILS) have signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) to agree on compliance issues and labour rights within the country’s shrimp and fish processing sector.
BFFEA President Md Aminullah, BSFF Chairman Syed Mahmudul Huq and Solidarity Centre's Country Programme Director Alonzo Suson signed the MoA on behalf their respective organisations.
US Ambassador to Bangladesh Dan W Mozena spoke at the signing ceremony, where he highlighted the importance of the MoA to retain Bangladesh's Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) facility in the US market.
"This MoA is an important element of Bangladesh's response to the concerns raised in the GSP petition regarding labour rights and working conditions in both RMG and shrimp industries", Mozena stated, Financial Express reports.
This is a major initiative given that Washington this week will be hearing a petition against the GSP facilities enjoyed by Bangladesh.
In 2007, the American Federation of Labour-Congress of Industrial Organisations (AFL-CIO) petitioned the US Government to revoke Bangladesh’s GSP facility, which allowed duty-free market access of some products, over concerns that working conditions in Bangladesh were inadequate, BD News 24 reports.
The signing ceremony was addressed, among others, by Fisheries and Livestock Secretary Ujjwal Bikash Dutta, Commerce Secretary Mahbub Ahmed, Labour and Employment Secretary Mikail Shipar, Foreign Affairs Secretary Md Shahidul Haque and Mission Director of USAID-Bangladesh Richard Greene.
Per the MoA, the signees will promote and execute the Bangladesh Labour Act (BLA) 2006 and International Labour Organisation (ILO) Core Labour Standards to the shrimp industry.
Fisheries and livestock, commerce, and labour and employment ministries will all pitch in to help the organisations implement the agreement.
"Today's MoA concretely demonstrates the resolve of Bangladeshi government, business sector and workers to ensure protection of workers' rights and workplace safety," Mozena said.
He added that the US intends to heighten the capacity of Quality Control Laboratory of the Department of Fisheries in Bangladesh as it pertains to hygiene and food safety.
By Natalia Real
[email protected]
www.seafood.media
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