Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has sought support from and collaboration with the US government to ensure fair minimum price for apparel shipments as well as a unified code of conduct for social audits.

The BGMEA also demanded that the US government reinstate GSP in favour of Bangladesh and include garment items in Washington’s GSP programme.

BGMEA president SM Mannan (Kochi) made the demands at a meeting with a delegation of the US Trade Representative (USTR) at the BGMEA Complex in Dhaka on Monday.

This high-level engagement aimed to discuss critical issues surrounding bilateral trade and policies including workers' rights, wellbeing and market access.

Led by Brendan Lynch, assistant US Trade Representative for South and Central Asia, the USTR delegation also comprised Emily Ashby, USTR director for South and Central Asia, and Jennifer Oetken, USTR director for labour affairs. Joseph Giblin, economic unit chief, and Leena Khan, labour attache at the US Embassy in Dhaka were also present at the meeting, said a press release.

The BGMEA side was headed by its President SM Mannan (Kochi) and included Senior Vice President Khandoker Rafiqul Islam, Vice President (Finance) Md Nasir Uddin and Vice President Abdullah Hil Rakib.

BGMEA Directors Asif Ashraf, Shovon Islam, Mohammad Sohel Sadat, Md Ashikur Rahman (Tuhin), Shams Mahmud, Nusrat Bari Asha, and Chair of BGMEA Standing Committee on ILO and Labour Affairs ANM Saifuddin were also present at the event.

During the discussions, BGMEA chief SM Mannan shared updates on the significant progress made by the Bangladeshi ready-made garment industry on workplace safety, workers' rights, and ongoing labour law reforms in Bangladesh.

He reiterated the commitment and the ongoing efforts of Bangladesh government and the industry to make further progress on workers' rights and welfare issues.

While the USTR delegates appreciated the progresses Bangladesh has made in the past few years in the labour sector, they briefed the meeting about the US government's labour action plan, and areas where further improvements are required on part of Bangladesh, including amendments in the Bangladesh Labour Act.

The meeting highlighted importance of international collaboration and engagement for making RMG industry more sustainable.