The United States has urged Bangladesh to align its garment sector labour laws with international standards, stressing the need for substantial legal reforms. This call is part of the 2025 Trade Policy Agenda and the 2024 Annual Report by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR).
While acknowledging Bangladesh’s progress in worker safety over the past decade, the USTR insists on further reforms to meet global labour standards. At the intersessional meeting of the US-Bangladesh Trade and Investment Cooperation Forum Agreement (TICFA) Council in Dhaka on 21 April 2024, the US presented a Labour Action Plan. This plan targets key issues, including workplace violence, unfair labour practices, and the rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining.
A major recommendation is amending the Bangladesh Labour Act to meet international benchmarks and ensure a fair, transparent minimum wage process for garment workers. The US’s concerns about labour rights in Bangladesh’s garment industry stem from the 2013 Rana Plaza disaster, which led to the suspension of Bangladesh’s Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) trade benefits. In 2024, USTR officials held discussions in Dhaka with government representatives, trade unions, NGOs, and apparel manufacturers to push for necessary reforms in the ready-made garment (RMG) sector.
Beyond advocating a fair minimum wage review, the USTR has collaborated with US apparel brands and trade associations to strengthen worker rights and safety in Bangladesh’s garment industry. The US remains committed to global labour rights, working with trade partners to enforce labour provisions and implement the Uyghur Forced Labour Prevention Act, which bans imports linked to forced labour.
As part of its broader efforts, the USTR continues engaging with textile and apparel brands to promote sustainable practices and enhance worker safety in Bangladesh’s garment sector.
