Bangladesh considers the recommendations of the US, the EU and the ILO on labour rights with due importance, Prime Minister's Adviser for Private Industry and Investment Salman F Rahman has said.
Speaking at the virtual meeting of the US-Bangladesh labour working group on Thursday, Salman detailed the steps taken by the current government in the labour sector.
The prime minister's adviser for private industry and investment and US Undersecretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Jose W Fernandez led the Bangladesh and US delegations respectively at the inaugural meeting of the working group.
US team leader Fernandez praised the steps taken to develop the labour sector in Bangladesh and called for the full implementation of the recommendations of the International Labour Organization (ILO), said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday.
He pledged to provide necessary cooperation and work together for the further development of the labour sector of Bangladesh.
Bangladesh and the US discussed "collaboration and assistance" to Bangladesh as it takes further steps to implement the requirements developed by Bangladesh for its ILO road map and adhere to internationally recognised labour rights.
The objective of the meeting was to support Bangladeshi implementation of commitments to improve labour rights protections and to further economic cooperation between the US and Bangladesh, according to the office of the spokesperson of the US Department of State.
Labour and Employment Secretary Md Ehsan-E-Elahi, Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States Muhammad Imran, Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Executive Chairman Lokman Hossain Miah, Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) Executive Chairman Shaikh Yusuf Harun, Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) Maj Gen Abul Kalam Mohammad Ziaur Rahman, US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas and high-level representatives from relevant departments joined the meeting.
Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen is fully aware of what it needs to do to protect labour rights and has continued all activities including necessary reforms accordingly.
He expressed a strong conviction to strengthen Bangladesh's economic partnership with the US.
The labour secretary informed the meeting about the benefits of the steps taken by the present government in the sector over the last 12 years.
On the other hand, the US delegation presented its observations on the revision of labour laws and regulations and the registration of trade unions.
The representative of the Ministry of Commerce urged the US side to seriously consider the issue of providing duty-free facilities for Bangladeshi products in the United States.
