Activities of Heidi HAUTALA related to 2017/2636(RSP)
Legal basis opinions (0)
Amendments (11)
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 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 this success storyBangladesh's sizable garment exports;
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 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 1435 unions leaders and worker rights advocates, and suspended or dismissed 1600 workers for protesting the low wages in the garment industry;
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 in terms of increasing workers’ rights in the garment supply chain;
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 been more challenging aninstead witnessed no substantial progress has been witnessed for the last months in this area; whereas, according to the ILO, the failure to meaningfully amend and implement the Bangladesh Labour Act of 2006 results in severe obstacles to exercise the right of freedom of association and in registering trade unions, especially in the RMG sector; whereas workers in Export Processing Zones have been denied the right to join trade unions;
Amendment 37 #
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses that despite the impressive track record on growth and development in recent years, Bangladesh needs to do sizable efforts over the long run in order to achievecisively increase efforts towards a more sustainable and more inclusive economic growth; underlines that structural reforms leading to increase of productivity, further diversification of exports and fight against corruption would be essential in this sense;
Amendment 40 #
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Urges the GOB to institute a wage review every two years.
Amendment 41 #
Paragraph 5
5. Calls onUrges the international brands/retailers and Bangladeshi private sector to stay engaged in orderrespect and effectively implement the labour law, to impromote over the long runve responsible business practices and decent working conditions for Bangladeshi garment workers, and to 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 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 better compliance with the principles of the conventions listed in the GSP regulation; considers that an investigation under the GSP mechanism might be necessary in the case that the May 18 Compact meeting in Dhaka should have failed in indicating a meaningful way towards guaranteeing compliance with the GSP listed conventions;
Amendment 53 #
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 and achieve positive results on sustainable development;