Terming workers' rights issues a 'big hurdle' for the country's garment industry, outgoing US Ambassador Marcia Bernicat to Dhaka on Tuesday said delayed action in this regard would increase the risk of shifting foreign buyers from Bangladesh to other destinations.

She also called on apparel sector leaders to accept transitional arrangements proposed by Accord and Alliance to keep the progress on track until the RCC (Remediation Coordination Center) is ready to assume full responsibility.

"Continuing to delay action - especially as consumers pay increasingly more attention to these labour issues in their buying decisions - threatens to undermine the country's good reputation and increases the risk that international buyers will begin to look elsewhere," she said.

The US ambassador was speaking while addressing a farewell lunch, organised by Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) at its headquarters in the city.

BGMEA president Md Siddiqur Rahman, its vice presidents Faruque Hassan and Mohammed Nasir, among others, were present.

The next big hurdle for BGMEA is the issue of workers' rights and unfortunately, progress here is not up to the mark in recent years, she noted.

She called on for making necessary and relevant legislative changes as soon as possible in this regard saying there is no reason for dragging the issue.

Bringing local laws up to international standards and implementing them would improve Bangladesh's international competitiveness and help increasing its market share in the global garment industry, Ms Bernicat said.

Terming the ongoing transformation in the country's garment industry as 'difficult and expensive' she noted the completion of remediation in garment factories under national initiative and maintaining all the progress made in Accord and Alliance-listed factories.

The US envoy called on the stakeholders to accept transitional arrangements offered by the western retailers' platforms, Accord and Alliance including the formation of SMO (Safety Monitoring Organisation).

BGMEA president in his speech said minimum wages for garment workers have been increased by 381 per cent during last eight years in three phases.

"But per unit price of locally made apparels during last four years has declined by 11.72 per cent in the US market," he added.

He pressed for fair price of locally made apparel products.

He requested the US to reinstate its GSP facility for Bangladesh saying the country has met almost all conditions in this regard.

Bangladesh uses a lot of US cotton to make garment and a significant part of those are shipped back to US as finished products.

"If we get duty-free market access for garments made of US cotton, this will be win-win for us, for the US cotton growers and the US consumers who will get products at a cheaper price," the BGMEA president said.

He requested the outgoing US envoy to discuss the issue with her government for consideration.