Recognising the progress made in line with the Sustainability Compact, the European Commission has asked the Bangladesh government to ensure workers' rights in the country's readymade garment sector.

The commission also suggested in a new report addressing the concerns noted by the ILO Committee on Application of Standards regarding the freedom of association and protection of rights to organise as a matter of immediate priority.

The European Commission recently released its third annual report on the progress achieved in the Bangladeshi garment sector through the Sustainability Compact for Bangladesh-an international response to the 2013 tragic collapse of the Rana Plaza factory complex.

The report reflects the views of the European Commission, based on information from a number of sources, including the Compact partners, in particular their latest follow-up meeting held in Dhaka on January 18 as well as Bangladeshi and international private sector and civil society, including the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and Human Rights Watch.