Dhaka: Acknowledging tangible progress on the ground, the European Union (EU) has said it will remain closely engaged to bring lasting improvement to Bangladesh’s garment industry and helping to spur prosperity into Bangladesh through EU’s open market.

‘The EU’s commitment remains unchanged,’ said a joint statement of the European Commission marking the third anniversary of Rana Plaza tragedy, being observed on Sunday.

Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, Neven Mimica, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility, Marianne Thyssen and Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmstrom jointly issued the statement, according to a message received in Dhaka from Brussels, reports UNB.

They said an active engagement of the EU, Bangladesh and other partners concerned has brought ‘tangible progress’ on the ground.

‘A number of labour rights are better protected in Bangladesh today than they were two years ago. The building and workplace safety have also improved,’ the joint statement read.

The Bangladesh Sustainability Compact opened a dialogue and supported exchanges with stakeholders, including trade unions, employers, buyers and NGOs in the EU, as well as in Bangladesh.

Beside, essential reforms - not least as regards the effective respect of trade union rights and promotion of genuine social dialogue - are still needed to ensure a better future for Bangladeshi garment industry workers, said the three Commissioners.

As a partner in the Bangladesh Sustainability Compact, the EU—together with the government of Bangladesh, the International Labour Organisation (ILO), and the governments of the US and Canada—regularly assesses progress and contributes to setting priorities for future work, with a view to fostering respect for fundamental labour rights and ensuring worker safety and health in the Bangladeshi garment sector.

The EU sees still an urgent need to swiftly investigate and prosecute all acts of anti-union discrimination, including in export zones, they said adding that trade union registration must be transparent and carried out expeditiously in accordance with objective criteria and unfair labour practices have to be effectively prevented.

In the coming weeks, the EU will publish a third report on the implementation of the Compact, which will provide a detailed overview of achievements and of work that remains to be done.

To improve the responsible management of the supply chain in the garment sector is an important issue not just in Bangladesh, but equally in other countries, they observed.

In order to discuss what action is needed, which initiatives are already ongoing and whether there would be added value of complementary action at the EU, the Commission will host a high-level conference on Monday.

Neven Mimica, Marianne Thyssen, Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Lilianne Ploumen and the State Minister of Labour and Employment for Bangladesh, Mujibul Haque Chunnu are expected to attend.

In reaction to the collapse of the Rana Plaza factory in April 2013, the Government of Bangladesh, the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the European Union and the United States launched a joint initiative known as the ‘Compact for Continuous Improvements in Labour Rights and Factory Safety in the Ready-Made Garment and Knitwear Industry in Bangladesh’.

Given its involvement in the same supply chains and its own efforts to promote sustainable sourcing, Canada decided to join the initiative as of 2016.

The Compact outlines concrete commitments in respect of labour rights, in particular freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining, as well as structural integrity of factory buildings, occupational safety and health, and promotion of responsible business conduct.

The European Commission has been working closely with the other Compact partners to translate its commitments into tangible improvements.