Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus said the interim government is committed to comprehensive reforms in the labor sector to attract more foreign buyers to the country.
He said this when a large delegation of labor and brands from the United States met to discuss labor issues at the Chief Adviser's office in Tejgaon on Monday (November 25).
Dr. the US delegation. Yunus said, “We want to bring our labor laws at par with global standards. This is my commitment.”
He said the interim government had only appointed a special envoy to reform the country's labor laws and address the concerns of local and international labor rights groups, the International Labor Organization and Western countries.
The US delegation was led by Deputy Under Secretary of Labor Thea Mei Lee and US Special Representative for International Labor Affairs Kelly Fay Rodriguez.
Two senior officials said the US, global labor rights groups and top international brands, which buy garments and footwear from Bangladesh, support Prof Yunus's move to reform labor laws and create worker-friendly conditions in Bangladeshi factories.
“These are all wonderful testaments to what the interim government led by Professor Yunus has done for the labor sector in the past three and a half months,” said Kelly Fay Rodriguez, referring to the measures, including the 18-point agreement signed between the two.
US officials called for union rights at factories and annual wage reviews to save millions of garment and shoe workers from inflationary pressures.
“It's good for business and good for the economy,” said Thea May Lee, referring to the benefits of a minimum wage in garment factories. He said that labor unions are “training grounds for democracy.”
Senior executives from three top US brands PVH, Calvin Klein and Gap Inc. were also present at the meeting.
PVH Corporation Senior Vice President Michael Bride said they have supported labor reforms in Bangladesh and similar efforts in Cambodia.
Professor Yunus called on brands to announce price hikes in their orders every January, so that Bangladeshi manufacturers can raise workers' wages accordingly.
US Chargé d'Affaires Megan Boldeb was also present in the meeting. He said that the United States fully supports Professor Yunus' comprehensive labor reforms.
“We want to partner with you,” he said.
