A Tripartite US labour delegation, led by Ms. Kelly M. Fay Rodrigues, the U.S. Department of State’s Special Representative for International Labour Affairs (SRILA), met with Foreign Secretary Ambassador Md Jashim Uddin in his office on Monday (25 November, 2024). Ms. Fay was accompanied by Ms. Thea Lee, Deputy Undersecretary of the United States Department of Labor, the Chargé d’Affaires of the US Embassy, as well as other government officials and representatives from labor organizations (UNI Global Union, The Worker Rights Consortium) and the private sector (GAP Inc., PBH, and VF Corporation).
The purpose of the visit was to express their support for Bangladesh’s RMG (Ready-Made Garments) industry, understanding the challenges facing the Bangladeshi economy and review the progress of labour reforms undertaken by the interim government.
During the meeting, the Foreign Secretary emphasized that labour reform is one of the top priorities of the Hon’ble Chief Adviser. He highlighted several reform initiatives by the interim government, including the agreement on 18-point demands, the revision of the Bangladesh Labor Act (BLA), the establishment of a High-Powered Commission on Labor, and the formation of a minimum wage review committee. The Foreign Secretary also reaffirmed Bangladesh’s commitment to implementing the ILO Roadmap and the labor action plans proposed by the US administration in a phased manner.
The visiting delegation appreciated the progress achieved by the interim government within a short period. They expressed their full support for the reform initiatives and reiterated their willingness to collaborate with the government in implementing the remaining labour reform agenda. They appreciated the 18-point agreement and particularly praised the interim government’s initiative to bring together the owners and the employees, thereby giving the workers a chance to be heard.
Representatives from global fashion brands emphasized the importance of fair wage-setting and developing skilled labor to capture the global market for high-end products.
The Foreign Secretary thanked the delegation and reiterated the government’s committment about working together in the coming days.
