Govt committed to sweeping labour reforms, CA tells US delegation

Bangladesh Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Monday said the Interim Government is committed to carrying out sweeping labour reforms in an effort to attract more foreign buyers to the country.

The Chief Adviser made the comments at his office at Tejgaon when a big United States labour and brand delegation called on him to discuss labour issues, said a spokesperson of the CA Office.

"We want to make our labour laws at par with global standards. It is my commitment," Professor Yunus told the delegation.

He said the Interim Government has appointed a special envoy only to reform the country's labour laws and to address the concerns raised by local and international labour rights groups, the International Labor Organisation and Western nations.

The delegation was led by Thea Mei Lee, the deputy undersecretary of the US Department of Labour, and Kelly Fay Rodriguez, Special Representative for International Labour Affairs of the US.

The two senior officials said the US, global labour rights groups, and top international brands that buy clothing and footwear from Bangladesh backed Professor Yunus's move to reform labour laws and create worker-friendly conditions in Bangladesh factories.


The US officials called for union rights in the factories and reviews of wages every year to cushion millions of garment and footwear workers from inflationary pressures.

Senior officials of three top US brands, PVH, Calvin Klein, and Gap Inc, were also present in the meeting.

Michael Bride, Senior Vice President of PVH Corp., said they backed labour reforms in Bangladesh, saying they supported similar efforts in Cambodia.

Professor Yunus urged the brands to declare the price hike of their orders every January so that the manufacturers in Bangladesh can raise worker wages accordingly.

US Charge d'affaires Meghan Bouldeb was also in the meeting. She said the US fully supports Professor Yunus's sweeping labour reforms.

"We want to be partners with you," she said.