Bangladesh must improve working conditions and wages in the RMG industry and beyond, says a UN expert

While Bangladesh seeks to diversify its economy and exports in particular, it should also improve working conditions and wages in the RMG sector and beyond, according to a Monday report by a United Nations expert.

At the conclusion of a 12-day visit to the country, UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights Olivier De Schutter stated, "There is ample room for increasing the minimum wage."

The UN expert on poverty stated that in the interest of their own reputation, international brands must accept their responsibilities in this regard and support both higher wages and a better respect for union rights.

He suggested that the right to form and join unions as well as collective bargaining be permitted in EPZs.

The UN expert stated that in order to make lasting progress in the fight against poverty, accountability must be strengthened and human rights organizations and other actors must be able to operate freely.

It also necessitates shielding the most vulnerable from the various forms of discrimination they face, he added.

"And additional mobilization of domestic resources is required. In his final mission statement, De Schutter argued that the Digital Security Act should be suspended.

In addition, he stated, "The anti-discrimination legal framework must be adopted. And tax reform should make it possible to increase public revenue by broadening the tax base and boosting the proportion of public revenue derived from direct taxation."

In recent years, Bangladesh has significantly reduced its poverty rate, according to the UN expert.

However, this progress is fragile. It is dependent on a growth model that must be rethought following graduation from LDC status, and it has not been sufficient to strengthen the resilience of the poorest households, particularly in the face of the threat of climate change disruptions."

Bangladesh is particularly vulnerable to climate change due to its population's reliance on climate-sensitive livelihoods such as crop farming, livestock production, and fishing, as well as its poor quality housing and infrastructure in rural and urban areas.

Consequently, he stated, climate-related migration within the nation will increase. UN expert: "As of December 2021, over ten million Bangladeshis were already considered climate refugees, and by 2050, one in seven Bangladeshis are expected to be displaced by climate change."

He suggested reforming social protection and streamlining and rationalizing the various schemes in order to guarantee an adequate level of protection and expand coverage.

To ensure that poor people are not excluded due to an inability to pay bribes or a lack of social connections, he said, adequate information should be provided about eligibility requirements, and grievance mechanisms should be available to those who have been excluded.

A specialized branch of social protection should protect victims of climate-related disasters, particularly when this results in relocation.

The UN expert stated that until the conditions for repatriation are met, the Rohingya refugees' human rights must be respected where they are.

To alleviate the burden on humanitarian actors, he stated that they should be granted the right to work and pursue income-generating activities.

The international community has both a moral and legal obligation to respond to the Joint Response Plan for 2023, according to the UN expert on poverty.

In June 2024, the Special Rapporteur will present his concluding report on Bangladesh to the Human Rights Council.