US memorandum on labour standard: Nothing to worry about, Momen says

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has said there is nothing to worry about the "Presidential Memorandum on Advancing Worker Empowerment, Rights, and High Labor Standards Globally" published by the United States earlier this month as Bangladeshi products get access to the US market due to its quality, competitive price and on-time delivery.

"Bangladeshi exporters are very smart and dynamic. I have faith in our dynamic private sector. There is nothing to worry about," he said while talking to reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday.

Momen said the US is a major market for the RMG export and it is the private sector that exports and it is the US private sector that buys Bangladeshi products.

"They buy our products because our products are of high quality and the price is cheap and delivery is made on time," he said, adding that even many Chinese products can be found in US stores.

The Bangladesh Embassy in Washington, DC has said the political context of the US memorandum has many reasons for Bangladesh "to be alarmed".

"Politics is behind what is said about labour rights in the memorandum, and the US would try to use the political purpose in different ways," the embassy said on 20 November in a letter to the commerce ministry based on observations it made on the recently launched US initiative.

The US Presidential Memorandum was rolled out on 16 November. The United States said it will work to "hold accountable those who threaten, intimidate, attack union leaders, labour rights defenders, labour organisations using all the tools in their kit including things like "sanctions, trade penalties and visa restrictions".

The memorandum is a signal for Bangladesh that the US may take any measure as described in it with the excuse of labour issues, said the embassy letter.

"The memorandum may also have an impact on Bangladesh's apparel sector, and it should be taken into cognizance with priority by the concerned stakeholders," it said.

The foreign minister yesterday said, "If they [the US] take a good policy that would be a great initiative. I hope the US, being such a rich country, will take good initiatives on climate and migration fronts.

"If the US comes up with good programmes, we will definitely welcome it."

He added that Bangladesh wants to see all workers living a good life.

Asked about the letter written by the Bangladesh Embassy to the commerce ministry, Momen said he did not know about the letter.

He said Bangladesh does not want to see any efforts that hinder its development journey.

Asked about Thursday's meeting between Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas, the foreign minister said it was a routine meeting after the ambassador's return to Dhaka from vacation.

Ambassador Haas had a meeting with the foreign secretary at State Guesthouse Padma on Thursday morning and discussed ongoing developments in bilateral relations.

Bangladesh Ambassador to the USA Muhammad Imran was also present at the meeting