Bangladesh committed to sweeping labour reforms to attract buyers: Yunus tells US delegation

The interim government is committed to carrying out sweeping labour reforms in an effort to attract more foreign buyers to the country, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus told a visiting delegation from the United States.

"We want to make our labour laws at par with global standards. It is my commitment," he said at a meeting with the US  labour and brand delegation at his office at Tejgaon today (25 November), reads a press statement.

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, the 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 back Professor Yunus's move to reform labour laws and create worker-friendly conditions in Bangladesh factories.

"All of these are wonderful testaments" to what the Professor Yunus-led Interim Government has done for the labour sector in the past three and a half months, Kelly Fay Rodriguez said, referring to the steps, including the 18-point agreement signed between the government and the local unions.

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.

"It is good for business and good for the economy," Thea May Lee said, speaking about the benefits of decent minimum wages in garment factories. She said worker unions are "a training ground for democracy."

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.