Bangladesh’s Labour leaders discuss current issues with visiting EU delegation
The EU delegation members wanted to hear from the leaders about the current labour issues
Dhaka: Representatives of trade unions and workers’ organisations met the visiting delegation of the European Union (EU) on Tuesday and discussed workers’ rights.
They acknowledged the important role of the EU, noting that the EU is the largest trading partner of Bangladesh.
They conveyed to the visiting delegation that there might be various types of problems but they want the trade relations to continue and develop further.
“These are the two messages we conveyed to the EU team,” one of the leaders told the media after the meeting.
They suggested that the EU delegation engages in discussions with both the government and BGMEA, advocating for representations that could significantly enhance the human and labour rights situation.
The EU delegation members wanted to hear from the leaders about the current labour issues.
“We are expecting that a stable situation will prevail,” another participant of the meeting told reporters.
There is a demand for the withdrawal of cases against the workers and release of the workers who are arrested on charge of vandalism and the demand will be placed through a press conference on Wednesday, the labour leaders said.
On Monday, the EU team exchanged views with the Rohingyas in the camps in Cox’s Bazar and assured them of their continued support.
Deputy Managing Director for Asia and the Pacific at the European External Action Service (EEAS) Paola Pampaloni is leading the delegation.
EU Ambassador to Bangladesh Charles Whiteley is accompanying the visiting delegation members during the meetings.
The delegation arrived in Dhaka on Sunday to have discussions with relevant stakeholders on the country’s labour sector.
They will have a meeting over lunch with labour, commerce and foreign secretaries of the government on Wednesday apart from their talks with other relevant stakeholders.
The visit is aimed at taking “stock of progress” in implementing the National Action Plan for the labour sector, Ambassador Whiteley told UNB.
Bangladesh adopted a National Action Plan (2021-2026) on the labour sector and the plan is closely linked to the roadmap submitted by the government of Bangladesh to the ILO Governing Body as the result of an Article 26 complaint.
The roadmap aims to improve the country’s observance of labour rights including freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining.
Last month, Ambassador Whiteley said aligning labour law with international standards will be an “essential element” for the European Parliament and the Commission in considering Bangladesh’s application for market access, the GSP+.
“Bangladesh has the option to accede to GSP+ which is the next most generous GSP programme after the Everything But Arms (EBA),” he said while speaking at a seminar in Dhaka.
