Washington lauds labour reforms, stands by RMG

A high-level tripartite US labour delegation, led by Kelly M Fay Rodrigues, Special Representative for International Labour Affairs (SRILA), met with the Bangladesh Foreign Secretary on Monday to discuss ongoing labour reforms and challenges to the country’s economy, particularly the Ready-Made Garments (RMG) sector.

The delegation included Thea Lee, Deputy Undersecretary of the US Department of Labour, the Chargé d’Affaires of the US Embassy, and representatives from global labour organizations and fashion brands, including UNI Global Union, The Worker Rights Consortium, GAP, PBH, and VF Corporation.

During the meeting, Foreign Secretary Jashimuddin highlighted the interim government's commitment to labour reforms, underscoring initiatives such as the 18-point demand agreement, amendments to the Bangladesh Labour Act, the establishment of a High-Powered Commission on Labour, and a minimum wage review committee. He reaffirmed Bangladesh's commitment to implementing the International Labour Organization (ILO) roadmap and the US-proposed labour action plans in a phased approach.

The delegation expressed appreciation for the interim government’s swift progress, particularly its efforts to foster collaboration between employers and employees. They praised the 18-point agreement as a significant step toward ensuring workers’ voices are heard.