Delegation of EU Parliament Members Attend BGMEA’s Luncheon Meeting

Staff Correspondent : A 4-member delegation of European Parliament (EU) led by Arne Lietz, S&D Co-rapporteur on the Garment Report, attended a luncheon meeting organized by BGMEA in honor of the visiting EU Parliament Members at a city hotel on 27 March.

Lietz said they would brief media details about their visit and meetings with different interlocutors on Wednesday at the end of the mission.

Bangladesh enjoys duty-free market access of all of its export products including readymade clothes in the 28-countries bloc.

But the Rana Plaza building collapse in 2O13, the issue of workers safety and labour rights came to the fore.

“We should look into those matters together,” Lietz said, stressing on the right to collective bargaining as well as forming the trade union.

He said the EU business model “rely on strong labour union”.

“We believe that workers have the right to collective bargaining,” he said, adding that they have to be able to extend their own ability to build up their coalition.

Other members of the delegation are: Linda McAvan, EP Chair of the Development Committee; Norbert Neuser, S&D Development Coordinator; and Agnes Jongerius, S&D INTA. Pierre Mayaudon, Ambassador and Head of EU Delegation to Bangladesh was also present at the meeting.

From BGMEA, its President Md. Siddiqur Rahman, Vice President (Finance) Mohammed Nasir, Vice President Mahmud Hasan Khan (Babu), and Vice President Ferdous Perves Bivon, First Vice President of FBCCI and former President of BGMEA Md. Shafiul Islam and BGMEA Directors attended the meeting and had a discussion on different issues pertaining to the RMG industry.

Later at a press briefing, the visiting EU delegation expressed their satisfaction with the progress of Bangladesh apparel industry and stressed on more development in the sector. They also reiterated the EU’s support for the betterment of Bangladesh’s RMG industry.

The visiting MEPs are also expected to meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, apart from their meetings with different government ministers.