Thursday, 23 May 2013 - Strasbourg

Debates

Pino Arlacchi (S&D ), in writing . − I voted for this report because what occurred in Bangladesh on 24 April 2013 at the Rana Plaza is inacceptable. Over 1 000 people died and 2 500 were injured on account of the complete lack of minimal safety measures, the illegal building construction and the lack of workers’ rights to defend their own interests. This is only the latest episode in the tragedies happening in the textile factories in this country. With this resolution, we call on the Bangladeshi authorities to act immediately to ensure that factories across the country comply with international labour standards and with the ILO conventions. The European market is the largest export destination for Bangladeshi apparel and textile products and for this reason the Commission should actively promote mandatory responsible business conduct among EU companies operating abroad, with a special focus on ensuring strict compliance with all their legal obligations, in particular international standards and rules in the areas of human rights, labour and the environment.

[source:www.europarl.europa.eu]