Khairul Alam, Dhaka: Development partners have called for the swift implementation of labor environment improvements in Bangladesh, urging the government to expedite the necessary amendments to labor laws, including extending them to Export Processing Zones (EPZs).
Representatives from five countries and organizations stressed the importance of not delaying the adoption of a unified labor law and making the process of forming trade unions more accessible, allowing workers greater freedom to organize.
These comments were made at the “3+5+1 Dialogue” held in Dhaka on Tuesday, where representatives discussed progress on the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) road map for labor reforms in the country.
The Bangladesh government presented updates on labor sector progress in accordance with the ILO’s guidelines, while also explaining the reasons for delays, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the national elections post-pandemic, and the student-led uprising and government change that followed.
Government officials requested additional time to fully implement the conditions set by the ILO, European Union (EU), and the United States for labor reform.
Since the Rana Plaza collapse and the Tazreen Fashions fire, which highlighted the need for labor sector reform in Bangladesh, development partners have been monitoring the progress of the necessary changes and the implementation of the Sustainability Compact, a set of commitments made after the tragedies.
Regular meetings, known as the “3+5+1 Dialogue,” are held between Bangladesh’s Ministries of Commerce, Labour and Employment, and Foreign Affairs, and the development partners from the EU, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, and ILO.
These meetings focus on the progress of sustainable labor reforms in Bangladesh.
During the meeting, progress was discussed regarding the national action plan for labor reform (2021-2026) adopted by Bangladesh, which aligns closely with the ILO’s road map.
Additionally, there was discussion on the 16 conditions set by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) following the suspension of Bangladesh’s Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) benefits after the Rana Plaza disaster.
The implementation of these conditions is a key area of focus.
The development partners also inquired about the progress of Bangladesh’s National Action Plan (NAP), which is aligned with the EU’s due diligence requirements. Bangladesh provided updates on the current status of these reforms.
Ambassadors expressed the need for acceptable resolutions regarding those who have been charged in connection with the 2023 protests for minimum wage demands.
They also called for the simplification of the trade union formation process, the protection of workers from being blacklisted, and the enhancement of the National Tripartite Consultative Council (NTCC)’s role.
As Bangladesh approaches graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status, the need for labor sector reforms becomes even more pressing.
Development partners emphasized that significant progress in labor reforms must be achieved within the next six months to one year.