The visiting United States’ delegation on Tuesday called for stronger labour protections in Bangladesh readymade garment sector, emphasising the importance of freedom of association and collective bargaining to uphold workers’ rights and dignity.
The US delegation’s visit to Bangladesh concluded on Tuesday, reaffirming its support for the nation’s economy, democracy and workforce.
‘At this unique moment for democracy and governance in Bangladesh, resolving longstanding challenges to the exercise of labour rights will be critical to ensuring national economic prosperity,’ according to a statement issued by the US embassy at the conclusion of the delegation’s visit.
The delegation was led by US State Department special representative Kelly M Fay RodrÃguez and Department of Labour deputy undersecretary Thea Lee.
Representatives from USAID, senior officials from major American brands associated with the American Apparel and Footwear Association, and international labour experts UNI Global Union general secretary Christy Hoffman and Worker Rights Consortium executive director Scott Nova joined the delegation.
Participating American brands – Gap Inc, PVH Corp and VF Corporation – collectively purchase approximately $1.8 billion dollars annually from Bangladesh’s apparel sector.
The delegation in its concluding note said that worker empowerment was essential to sustainable and inclusive economic growth, respect for human rights, democratic resilience, and gender equity and inclusion.
The statement also said that the United States recognised the well-being of workers in the global economy as a shared responsibility among governments, buyers, employers, regulators and labour unions.
‘This includes ensuring good, safe working conditions where workers’ rights and dignity are respected and improving labour rights, particularly on freedom of association and collective bargaining in the RMG sector,’ it said.
The US delegation expressed appreciation for chief adviser Muhammad Yunus’s assurance that labour reforms were a priority for the interim government and voiced support for Bangladesh’s efforts to enhance workers’ rights to form independent trade unions and engage in collective bargaining for improved working conditions.
The statement said that the United States had been committed to working with Bangladesh to promote industry practices that ensured stable employment, quality working conditions and living wages for Bangladeshi workers and their families to thrive.
‘We are grateful for the opportunity to support the people of Bangladesh at this historic moment, and for the chance to join here together in Dhaka to affirm our shared commitment to independent, democratic trade unions, for Bangladeshi workers and the businesses that employ them,’ the statement observed.
During its visit to Bangladesh, the US delegation held separate meetings with the chief adviser, officials from the foreign, labour and commerce ministries, trade union leaders and representatives of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association.
In these meetings, the delegation voiced concerns over unfair labour practices, the cumbersome trade union registration process, and legal actions against garment workers and labour leaders involved in labour movements.
They urged the government to swiftly implement the 11 recommendations provided by the US in April 2024 to safeguard workers’ rights.
The delegation also called for reducing the minimum membership threshold for trade union registration from 20 per cent to 10 per cent.