A statement issued recently by European Union (EU)-Bangladesh Joint Commission underlined that the future trade relation of Bangladesh with the EU is linked to ensuring labour rights.
The statement, issued after the end of the 9th Session of the European Union (EU)-Bangladesh Joint Commission meeting on Monday, also called for developing a roadmap on strengthening labour and human rights in the country.
It may be mentioned here that EU is a major export destination for Bangladesh, especially readymade apparels, where it enjoys preferential trade benefit, Generalised System of Preference (GSP), under the Everything but Arms (EBA) regime being a least developed nation (LDC).
The scheme will phase out in 2027.
However, Bangladesh is thriving to graduate from LDC to middle income status in 2024, after which to get such a facility (GSP Plus), Bangladesh requires compliance and ratification of some 27 core international conventions.
“In this context, it was recalled that EBA preferences as well as any future trade relationship are conditional on the respect of human rights, including labour rights, as reflected in the international conventions listed in the GSP Regulation,” underlined the joint statement.
Bharat Tex Special Report 2026 
