Awaiting Parliament 1st reading / single reading / budget 1st stage
2017/2636(RSP) State of play of the implementation of the sustainability compact in Bangladesh
Lead committee dossier: INTA/8/09599
Legal Basis RoP 128-p5
| Role | Committee | Rapporteur | Shadows |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead | INTA | KARIM Sajjad (ECR) | RUAS Fernando (EPP), JONGERIUS Agnes (S&D), TREMOSA I BALCELLS Ramon (ALDE), SÁNCHEZ CALDENTEY Lola (GUE/NGL), HAUTALA Heidi (Verts/ALE), BORRELLI David (EFD) |
Legal Basis RoP 128-p5
Activites
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2017/06/14
Vote in plenary scheduled
- 2017/05/17 Debate in Parliament
Documents
- Debate in Parliament: Debate in Parliament
| Amendments | Dossier |
| 62 |
2017/2636(RSP)
2017/05/08
INTA
62 amendments...
Amendment 1 #
Citation 7 a (new) - having regard to the Commission staff working document entitled "Sustainable garment value chains through EU development action" (COM (2017) 0147) of 24 April 2017,
Amendment 10 #
Recital C C. whereas the ready-made industry (RMG) is currently employing 4.2 million people in as many as 5000 factories and indirectly supports the livelihoods of as many as 40 million people – about a quarter of Bangladesh’s population;
Amendment 11 #
Recital C C. whereas the ready-made industry (RMG) is currently employing 4.2 million people in as many as 5000 factories and indirectly supports the livelihoods of as many as 40 million people – about a quarter of Bangladesh’s population; whereas the RMG industry has importantly contributed to poverty reduction and to empowerment of women; whereas women, mostly from rural areas, represent 80% of the RMG sector in Bangladesh; whereas, however, the minimum wage in the RMG sector has remained below the World Bank's poverty line;
Amendment 12 #
Recital C a (new) C a. whereas gender equality is a driver of development; whereas women rights fall under the human rights spectrum; whereas it is firmly established in Article 8 of the Treaty of the Functioning of the European Union that "In all its activities, the Union shall aim to eliminate inequalities, and to promote equality, between men and women" and, therefore, the EU has a duty to mainstream gender equality in all its policies, guaranteeing that men and women benefit equally from social changes, economic growth and the creation of decent jobs, doing away with discrimination and promoting respect for women's rights in the world;
Amendment 13 #
Recital C b (new) C b. Whereas approximately 10% of the workforce in the RMG sector is employed in Export Processing Zones (EPZ), whereas under the EPZ Labour Act falls short of granting sufficient basic rights to workers in comparison to those elsewhere in Bangladesh, whereas a vast expansion of EPZ is planned.
Amendment 14 #
Recital D D. whereas the EU’s generous unilateral trade preference under the so- called “Everything, but arms” initiative for least-developed countries (LDCs) enshrined in the EU GSP regulation granting tariff-free access for Bangladesh textiles under flexible rules of origins have significantly contributed to this success story;growth in export and employment
Amendment 15 #
Recital D D. whereas the EU’s generous unilateral trade preference under the so- called “Everything, but arms” initiative for least-developed countries (LDCs) enshrined in the EU GSP regulation granting tariff-free access for Bangladesh textiles under flexible rules of origins have significantly contributed to
Amendment 16 #
Recital D D. whereas the EU’s
Amendment 17 #
Recital E E. whereas these
Amendment 18 #
Recital E a (new) E a. Whereas Bangladesh will cease to be eligable for EBA in 2021, due to its good growth performance, and will have to apply for GSP+ to maintain the current level of market access; whereas GSP+ obligates the receiving country to strict compliance with 27 international conventions on, among others, good governance, labour law and freedom of association; whereas Bangladesh does not meet all of these criteria at the present;
Amendment 19 #
Recital F a (new) F a. whereas the Directorate-Generals of EMPL, DEVE and TRADE of the European Commission send a letter on March 16 2017 to the Goverment of Bangladesh demanding tangible progress by May 18 2017 on the following four points: 1) Undertake amendments to the 2013 Labour Act, 2) ensure that the law governing the EPZs allows for full freedom of association, 3) investigate as a matter of urgency all acts of anti-union discrimination and 4) ensure that applications for union registration are acted upon expeditiously and are not denied unless the fail to meet clear and objective criteria set forth in law;
Amendment 2 #
Citation 7 a (new) - having regard to the Commission staff working document of 24 April 2017, entitled 'Sustainable garment value chains through EU development action',
Amendment 20 #
Recital F b (new) F b. Whereas the International Labour Organisation gave Bangladesh a special paragraph in the ILO Committee on Application of Standards of the ILO Conference in 2016 stating that the country is in serious breach of its obligations under convention 87 (freedom of association); Whereas in 2015, the ILO reported that 78% of trade union registration applications were rejected due to a mix of hostility to unions by factory managers, certain politicians and an administrative incapacity to register them.
Amendment 21 #
Recital G G. whereas, according to various reports, hundreds of garment workers died in various factory fires in Bangladesh since 2006, for which regrettably many culpable factory owners and managers have never been brought to justice, whereas it is estimated that 11.7 thousand workers suffer from fatal accidents and a further 24.5 thousand die from work related diseases across all sectors each year;
Amendment 22 #
Recital H H. whereas the current minimum wage of 5 300 BDT (US $ 67) per month has not been increased since 2013 and continues to provide an income below the extreme poverty line set by the World Bank; whereas the minimum wage board has not been convened;
Amendment 23 #
Recital H H. whereas the current minimum wage of 5 300 BDT (US $ 67) per month has not been increased since 2013 and the minimum wage board has not been convened;
Amendment 24 #
Recital I I. whereas since 21st December 2016, following strikes and demonstrations by Bangladeshi garment workers seeking higher wages, the Bangladeshi authorities
Amendment 25 #
Recital I I. whereas since 21st December 2016, following strikes and demonstrations by Bangladeshi garment workers seeking higher wages, the Bangladeshi authorities have arrested or detained at least
Amendment 26 #
Recital I I. whereas since 21st December 2016, following strikes and demonstrations by Bangladeshi garment workers seeking higher wages, the Bangladeshi authorities have arrested or detained at least
Amendment 27 #
Recital K K. whereas a number of promising initiatives led by a collaboration between labour and the private sector such as the Bangladesh Accord on Fire and Building Safety (the Accord) have contributed positively to improving supply chain standards and workforce safety over the last 20 years in terms of increasing workers’ rights in the garment supply chain;
Amendment 28 #
Recital K K. whereas a number of promising initiatives led by the private sector such as the Bangladesh Accord on Fire and Building Safety (the Accord) have contributed positively to improving supply chain standards and workforce safety over the last 20 years
Amendment 29 #
Recital K K. whereas a number of promising initiatives led by the private sector such as the Bangladesh Accord on Fire and Building Safety (the Accord) have contributed moderately positively to improving supply chain standards and workforce safety over the last 20 years in terms of increasing workers’ rights in the garment supply chain;
Amendment 3 #
Citation 15 a (new) - having regard to special paragraph in the ILO Committee on Application of Standards of the ILO Conference of 2016, the ILO High Level Tripartite Mission Report and the 2017 observations of the ILO Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations concerning Conventions 87 and 98
Amendment 30 #
Recital L L. whereas the conclusions of successive reviews of the Compact in 2014, 2015 and 2016 are reporting tangible improvements achieved by the Bangladeshi authorities, and are recognizing the contribution of the Compact in improving health and safety in factories and working conditions in the RMG industry; whereas progress relating to worker’s rights has
Amendment 31 #
Recital L L. whereas the conclusions of successive reviews of the Compact in 2014, 2015 and 2016
Amendment 32 #
Recital L L. whereas the conclusions of successive reviews of the Compact in 2014, 2015 and 2016 are reporting tangible improvements achieved by the Bangladeshi authorities in some areas, and are recognizing the contribution of the Compact in moderately improving health and safety in factories and working conditions in the RMG industry; whereas progress relating to worker
Amendment 33 #
Recital L a (new) L a. Whereas the ILO has indicated that Bangladesh has made no tangible progress in amending the Bangladesh Labour Act of 2006 and adopted Implementing Rules which create obstacles to the exercise of freedom of association; whereas workers in the garment sector continue to face serious obstacles in registering trade unions; whereas workers have been dismissed for trade union activity without recourse and without sanction of any kind for the employer; whereas workers have been repeatedly subjected to acts of violence, including murder, for exercising trade union activities; and whereas workers in Export Processing Zones have been denied the right to join trade unions;
Amendment 34 #
Recital M a (new) M a. whereas global trade unions (ETUC, ITUC, Uni Global Union, IndustriAll) have been calling for the European Commission to carry out a GSP investigation due to, as the unions state: 'the government [of Bangladesh] has demonstrated beyond any doubt that continued dialogue mechanisms have failed and will do little if anything to improve conditions of the more than 4 million garment workers and the many millions more in other sectors'
Amendment 35 #
Recital M b (new) M b. whereas, despite the various commitments undertaken by the EU, the Government of Bangladesh, international organizations, and private operators, labour and human rights' protection in the country continues to fall well short of international standards;
Amendment 36 #
Paragraph 1 1. Stresses that despite the
Amendment 37 #
Paragraph 1 1. Stresses that despite the impressive track record on growth and development in recent years, Bangladesh needs to d
Amendment 38 #
Paragraph 2 2. Calls on the Government of Bangladesh (GOB)
Amendment 39 #
Paragraph 4 a (new) 4 a. urges the Government of Bangladesh to instate immediately the minimum wage board and institute a shorter frequency of wage review;
Amendment 4 #
Citation 15 b (new) - having regard for the complaint filed in 2017 with the ILO Committee on Freedom of Association concerning the government's crackdown on garment workers in Ashulia in December 2016 and the complaint filed with the UN special mandates concerning the crackdown in Ashulia
Amendment 41 #
Paragraph 5 5.
Amendment 42 #
Paragraph 5 5. Calls on the international brands/retailers and Bangladeshi private sector to
Amendment 43 #
Paragraph 5 5. Calls on the international brands/retailers and Bangladeshi private sector to stay engaged in order to implement CSR measures and promote over the long run responsible business practices and decent working conditions for Bangladeshi garment workers and facilitate transparent and coordinated mechanisms between relevant initiatives; encourages the continuation of the work of the global retailers and brands to adopt a unified code of conduct for factory audit in Bangladesh;
Amendment 44 #
Paragraph 6 6. Stresses the achievements of the engagement of the private business sector in cooperation with the Bangladesh government and international organisations in Bangladesh through the “Accord on Fire and Building Safety”; points out however that despite marking progress on fire and building safety, the Accord still remains concerned with the slow pace of completing remediation on critical safety issues; calls on parties of the “Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh” to prolong their engagement through the “Accord” for another period of five years before the current agreement comes to end on 12 May 2018; invites the government of Bangladesh as well as the Bangladeshi business sector to acknowledge the usefulness of the commitment of retailers in Bangladesh through the Accord and support the extension of their mandate in Bangladesh;
Amendment 45 #
Paragraph 6 a (new) 6 a. calls for the Commission to extend corporate social responsibility through binding legislation on due diligence obligations to ensure that EU companies fulfil their obligation to respect both human rights and the highest social and environmental standards;
Amendment 46 #
Paragraph 8 8. Supports the follow-up activities of the Bangladesh Sustainability Compact and the Commission and the EEAS enhanced dialogue on labour and human rights with Bangladesh to achieve
Amendment 47 #
Paragraph 8 a (new) 8 a. Calls on the EU to initiate an investigation under the GSP mechanism as a way to ensure meaningful progress on workers’ rights, safety and working conditions, building and factory safety and labour inspections; calls on the EU to commence similar procedures regarding the amendment of 2013 Labour Act to address freedom of association and collective bargaining, promotion of social dialogue, non-arbitrary registration of trade unions, and effective investigation and prosecution of alleged anti-union discrimination, as well as the safeguard of labour legislative frameworks and their full compliance with international standards such as ILO conventions 87 and 89;
Amendment 48 #
Paragraph 9 9. Supports the Commission's examination of a possible EU-wide initiative on the garment sector
Amendment 49 #
Paragraph 9 9. Supports the Commission's examination of a possible EU-wide initiative on the garment sector
Amendment 5 #
Citation 16 — having regard to special paragraph in the ILO Committee on Application of Standards of the ILO Conference of 2016, the ILO High Level Tripartite Mission Report and the 2017 observations of the ILO Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations concerning Conventions 87 and 98 - all which demonstrate convincingly the failure of the government to respect the right to freedom of association and to bargain collectively;
Amendment 50 #
Paragraph 9 9. Supports the Commission's examination of a possible EU-wide initiative on the garment sector-voluntary initiatives and strict codes of conduct shall be its key principles; notes the Commission staff working document of 24 April 2017, entitled 'Sustainable garment value chains through EU development action', and calls once again on the Commission not to confine itself to simply presenting a working document; stresses furthermore that coordination, sharing information and exchange of best practices may contribute to increasing efficiency of private and public value chain initiatives and achieve positive results on sustainable development;
Amendment 51 #
Paragraph 9 9. Supports the Commission's examination of a possible EU-wide initiative on the garment sector-voluntary initiatives and strict codes of conduct shall be its key principles; stresses furthermore that coordination, sharing information and exchange of best practices may contribute to increasing efficiency of private and public value chain initiatives
Amendment 52 #
Paragraph 9 9. Supports the Commission's examination of a possible EU-wide initiative on the garment sector-voluntary initiatives and strict codes of conduct shall be its key principles; stresses furthermore that coordination, sharing information
Amendment 53 #
Paragraph 9 9. Supports the Commission's examination of a possible EU-wide initiative on the garment sector
Amendment 54 #
Paragraph 9 a (new) 9a. Takes the view that the Bangladesh Sustainability Compact, in which the EU is a key player, could serve as a paradigm for the establishment of similar partnerships with third countries; calls on the EU to continue and step up its international cooperation with organisations such as the ILO, the OECD and the United Nations in the area of sustainable development and corporate social responsability;
Amendment 55 #
Paragraph 9 a (new) 9 a. Supports the Commission's stated intent to launch an official GSP investigation when by May 18 2017 if no 'sufficient substantial and meaningful progress together with a sound and time- bound strategy' is put in place by the GOB;
Amendment 56 #
Paragraph 9 a (new) 9 a. Supports the Commission's stated intent to launch an official GSP investigation when by May 18 2017 if no tangible progress is put in place by the GOB;
Amendment 57 #
Paragraph 9 a (new) 9 a. supports the efforts of the UN open ended working group with the aim of elaborating a binding UN Treaty on business and human rights; calls upon the Commission and Member States to actively engage in this negotiations;
Amendment 58 #
Paragraph 9 b (new) 9 b. Calls on the European Commission to use the leverage granted by the future GSP+ negotiations with Bangladesh to the fullest extend and firmly hold the country to the international obligations it has to meet before being considered for GSP+;
Amendment 59 #
Paragraph 9 b (new) 9 b. Calls on the European Commission to use the leverage granted by the future GSP+ negotiations with Bangladesh to the fullest extend and firmly hold the country to the international obligations it has to meet before being considered for GSP+;
Amendment 6 #
Citation 16 a (new) - having regard for the complaint filed in 2017 with the ILO Committee on Freedom of Association concerning the government's crackdown on garment workers in Ashulia in December 2016 and the complaint filed with the UN special mandates concerning the crackdown in Ashulia;
Amendment 60 #
Paragraph 9 c (new) 9 c. Underlines that failure to improve the security situation and systematically confront the threats posed by extremists in Bangladesh will have a direct effect on investment in the country, which will ultimately hold back long term development and the lives of ordinary people.
Amendment 61 #
Paragraph 9 c (new) 9 c. Underlines that failure to improve the security situation and systematically confront the threats posed by extremists in Bangladesh will have a direct effect on investment in the country, which will ultimately hold back long term development and the lives of ordinary people;
Amendment 62 #
Paragraph 10 10. Stresses that the high-quality garment sector is essential for Bangladeshi economic and social development, that its expansion has allowed many workers, especially women, to move from informal economy to formal economy;
Amendment 7 #
Citation 21 a (new) - having regard to the Accord Quarterly Aggregate Report on remediation progress at RMG factories covered by the Accord of 31 October 2016,
Amendment 8 #
Recital A Amendment 9 #
Recital C C. whereas the ready-made industry (RMG) is currently employing 4.2 million people in as many as 5000 factories and indirectly supports the livelihoods of as many as 40 million people
source: 604.648
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History
(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)
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