Visiting EU delegation hasn’t raised questions on min wage but highlighted rights issues: Foreign Secretary

The visiting delegation of the European Union (EU) during their meeting with the government today did not raise questions regarding the recently announced minimum wage for readymade garments (RMG) factory workers, but observed that all are yet to be on board.

The Bangladesh side explained the issue in details and the EU side hoped that the current situation in the RMG sector will ease soon through discussion.

Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen briefed reporters after the EU team’s meeting with the foreign, labour and commerce secretaries at the state guesthouse Padma.

Deputy Managing Director for Asia and the Pacific at the European External Action Service (EEAS), Paola Pampaloni, is leading the delegation accompanied by EU Ambassador to Bangladesh, Charles Whiteley.

The EU delegation talked about human rights issues while the Bangladesh side briefed them about the country’s successful defence at the universal periodic review (UPR) of UN Human Rights Council.

The EU delegation hoped that the next government will be formed through a free and fair election, said Foreign Secretary Masud.

The two sides discussed the reforms of National Plan of Action and its progress.

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.

“We also discussed how we can get access to the GSP plus scheme. We informed the various steps taken by the government on labour sector reforms,” said the foreign secretary.

Masud said Bangladesh has been working sincerely to improve the situation in the labour sector. “The government is committed not only to enact laws but also to implement those effectively.”

The EU side appreciated the progress that Bangladesh has made in many areas but said there is scope of improvement in the areas of child labour, workplace safety and labour union.

“We highlighted Bangladesh’s progress in human rights and labour rights fronts,” said the foreign secretary.

The two sides also discussed in detail the GSP plus facility that Bangladesh needs after LDC graduation.

In March next year, they will discuss it further with labour reforms issues.

The foreign secretary said the framework on GSP plus will be finalised soon. “Once it is finalised, it will give space to discuss it in a concrete manner,” he added.

Labour Secretary Ehsan E Elahi said there are 9 targets in the National Plan of Action and 80 percent have been fulfilled.

The EU delegation wanted to know whether the ILO is satisfied or not.

“Most of the ILO suggestions have been accommodated. Some of the suggestions, we could not take as there are other parties,” he said.

On Tuesday, representatives of trade unions and workers’ organisations met the visiting EU delegation 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.

They also suggested that the EU delegation talk to the government and BGMEA, making representations that can contribute to improving the human and labour rights situation.

Paola Pampaloni also had wide-ranging exchanges on labour and human rights with senior government figures, including State Minister for Labour and Employment Begum Monnujan Sufian and PM’s Principle Secretary Md Tofazzel Miah.

The delegation arrived in Dhaka on Sunday to have discussions with relevant stakeholders in the country’s labour sector.

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.