US committed to protect factory workers, says its envoy to Bangladesh

United States Ambassador to Bangladesh Marcia Stephens Bloom Bernicat on Saturday said that Washington is committed in continuing efforts to protect factory workers of Bangladesh.

Ambassador Bernicat made the statement at an event held in Dhaka, commemorating the Rana Plaza disaster that claimed lives of at least 1,134 people three years ago.

"We have provided USD 1.5 million to the International Labor Organization to improve fire and building safety in Bangladesh. We provided USD 1 million to the Solidarity Center to train workers on fire and building safety so that they understand fire safety and general building hazards and how to report and propose remediation to the government or factory managers, " the Daily Star quoted her, as saying.

The U.S. envoy also stressed on the rights and voices of the workers.

"We also believe it is critically important for workers to have a strong and powerful voice, to be able say. We will not work in that building with a cracked wall and be heard and respected. So, we have provided support to improve workers' rights, and engaged with the government, the private sector, the International Labor Organization, and other missions to strengthen that voice, " she added.

Ambassador Bernicat pressed on working together to prevent any recurrence of the Rana Plaza disaster.