The United States has urged Bangladesh to bring its labour laws in the garment sector up to international standards, highlighting the pressing need for substantial legal reforms. This call for action is outlined in the 2025 Trade Policy Agenda and the 2024 Annual Report published by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR).
While the USTR commends Bangladesh for its progress in improving worker safety over the last decade, it stresses the importance of further reforms to meet global labour standards. At the US-Bangladesh Trade and Investment Cooperation Forum Agreement (Ticfa) Council’s intersessional meeting in Dhaka on April 21, 2024, the US unveiled a Labour Action Plan. This plan addresses critical issues such as violence and harassment at the workplace, unfair labour practices, and fundamental rights like freedom of association and collective bargaining.
A central recommendation of the plan is to amend the Bangladesh Labour Act to align it with international norms and to establish an equitable, transparent process for determining minimum wages for garment workers.
The US’s concerns about labour practices in Bangladesh’s garment industry trace back to the tragic Rana Plaza collapse in 2013, an incident that led to the suspension of Bangladesh’s trade benefits under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP). In 2024, USTR officials engaged in discussions with various stakeholders in Dhaka, including government representatives, trade unions, NGOs, and apparel manufacturers, to address the urgent need for reforms in the ready-made garment (RMG) sector.
Beyond advocating for fair wage policies, the USTR has collaborated with US apparel brands and trade associations to strengthen workers’ rights and safety in Bangladesh’s garment industry. These efforts align with the broader US commitment to advancing labour rights globally. The US is also working with trading partners to enforce labour provisions linked to trade agreements and implement the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, which bans the import of goods made under conditions of forced labour.
In its sustained efforts, the USTR continues to partner with textile and apparel brands to encourage sustainable practices and elevate worker safety standards in Bangladesh’s garment sector.
