CA reaffirms labour reform commitment before February polls

Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Yunus has reiterated the interim government's commitment to implementing key labour reforms aligned with International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions ahead of the national elections scheduled for February.

He made the assurance at a high-level dinner hosted at Bangladesh’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, addressing diplomats, UN officials, and senior leaders from Bangladesh's major political parties.

The event focused on labour laws, workers’ rights, and the government's ongoing reform agenda.

He stressed that comprehensive labour reforms are essential for attracting large-scale foreign direct investment and enhancing Bangladesh’s global competitiveness.

Representatives from the three main political parties—BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and NCP—expressed bipartisan support for strengthening the labour sector and acknowledged the government's progress so far.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir called the garments industry “a pillar of the national economy,” urging that any future administration continue these reforms. Jamaat’s Nayeb-e-Amir, Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher, highlighted his party’s experience in the sector and commitment to improving its global standards. NCP’s Dr. Tasnim Jara reflected on the Rana Plaza tragedy as a pivotal moment in her political journey, advocating for stronger safety standards.

Participants, including the ILO Director-General and UN representatives, echoed the importance of fair pricing for garments and greater worker protections. One speaker noted, “It should not always be the buyer who dictates the terms”—a sentiment that received broad agreement.

Prof. Yunus closed by reaffirming the government’s resolve to implement "meaningful and lasting" labour reforms before the elections.