28 February 2017 Positive developments in Bangladesh - but the crisis in Bangladesh's textile sector has not yet been overcome! Textile factory in Bangladesh Photo: © Gisela Burckhardt, FEMNET After months of international protests by trade unions and non-governmental organisations worldwide, an agreement was reached between trade unions, the Ministry of Labour and employers in Bangladesh to release all imprisoned trade unionists. The Clean Clothes Campaign welcomes this agreement as a positive first step, but warns that it has not yet weathered the crisis in Bangladesh's textile sector. The agreement between IndustriALL Bangladesh Council (IBC), the Ministry of Labour and the employers' association BGMEA came about on 23 February 2017 after some international apparel companies cancelled their participation in a conference of the apparel industry (Dhaka Apparel Summit). However, the press release published after the meeting shows significant weaknesses. It does not provide any information on whether the criminal proceedings against trade unionists will be discontinued. Although the dismissed offerers are offered a new job, but without the payment of the loss of wages and there is also no concrete timetable by when these measures must be implemented. Laura Ceresna-Chaturvedi from the Clean Clothes Campaign says: "We welcome the reopening of the trade union offices and the planned release of all detained workers, but the crisis in Bangladesh's textile sector has not yet been overcome. Without the guarantee that criminal charges will be discontinued, the exercise of trade union rights in Bangladesh remains problematic. We will closely monitor the situation to see if the textile industry and government are serious about ending the repression of trade unions and workers' rights. To achieve this, we continue to rely on pressure from the international community and businesses.” Gisela Burckhardt from FEMNET, a member of the Clean Clothes Campaign, says “The EU should also check whether Bangladesh is still entitled to export its goods to the European market duty-free under the Everything but Arms Agreement (EBA), even though it does not respect human rights. The German government should also freeze all funding to the Bangladesh Garment Exporters Association (BGMEA) until the situation has improved and trade unions are allowed to work undisturbed.” Contact: Laura Ceresna, Rapid Action Coordinator of the Clean Clothes Campaign,Tel.: +49 (0)30-42 08 202-52, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Gisela Burckhardt, FEMNET e.V., Tel. 01520-1774080, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Press release of the campaign for clean clothing from 28.02.2017
