US Delegation Praises BD's Labour Reform Progress

A visiting United States (US) labour delegation has praised the Bangladesh interim government for making significant strides in its labour reform agenda in a relatively short period. The delegation expressed Washington's full support for these reforms and reiterated its commitment to collaborating with Bangladesh to implement the remaining components of the labour reform agenda.

The meeting, held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, featured a tripartite delegation led by Kelly M. Fay Rodrigues, the US Department of State’s Special Representative for International Labour Affairs (SRILA). Fay was accompanied by Deputy Undersecretary of the US Department of Labor Thea Lee, Chargé d’Affaires of the US Embassy, and other key officials, along with representatives from labour organizations such as UNI Global Union and the Worker Rights Consortium, as well as private sector representatives from GAP Inc., PBH, and VF Corporation.

During the discussion, the delegation commended the recent 18-point agreement, particularly applauding the interim government’s efforts to facilitate dialogue between employers and employees, ensuring that workers’ voices are heard. Representatives from global fashion brands stressed the need for fair wage-setting practices and the importance of developing a skilled workforce to capture a greater share of the global high-end product market.

Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin emphasized that labour reform is a top priority for Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus. He highlighted the interim government’s efforts, including the agreement on the 18-point demands, the revision of the Bangladesh Labour Act (BLA), the establishment of a High-Powered Commission on Labour, and the formation of a minimum wage review committee.

The Foreign Secretary reaffirmed Bangladesh’s commitment to implementing the International Labour Organization (ILO) Roadmap and the labour action plans proposed by the US administration, in a phased manner. He also expressed gratitude to the US delegation for their visit, underscoring the government’s determination to continue working closely with the US in the future.

The visit aimed to show US support for Bangladesh’s Ready-Made Garments (RMG) industry, assess the ongoing labour reforms, and discuss the economic challenges currently faced by Bangladesh.