In the wake of the suspension of GSP (Generalised System of Preferences) facility by the US government for Bangladesh, the government on Monday decided to form a high-profile committee to pinpoint loopholes in the existing labour law and put forward recommendations to make it a more time befitting one.
The decision was taken in the regular cabinet meeting held at the Secretariat with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
As per the decision, Expatriates’ Welfare & Overseas Employment minister Khandker Mosharraf Hossain, the former labour minister and ex-official of International Labour Organisation (ILO) is expected to lead the committee.
Emerging from the meeting, Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan told reporters that the issue was not in the regular agenda of the meeting. The prime minister raised the issue aiming to revive the trade facility.
Mosharraf said: “The US authority did not cancel the GSP for Bangladesh. They have suspended it on basis of demands by some international labour organisations. They came up with the move due to the misappropriation of labour laws and labour issues. We are going to amend the law as per the recommendation of those organisations and US administration.”
“Khondakar Mosharraf is an expert on labour issues as he was the minister for labour and Ex-official of ILO. The committee will make recommendations once after examining the weak sides of the existing labour law. The amendment will be made as per the suggestions of the committee,” he added.
Wishing anonymity, a minister told Dhaka Tribune that the prime minister also wanted to know the progress of labour leader Aminul Islam killing case and she asked the home minister to unveil the mystery as soon as possible.
In reply, the home minister informed the cabinet that the ministry has announced a bounty of taka 100,000 to trace Mustafiz, the prime suspect of the much-talked- about killing case. The law enforcing agencies are also trying to hold the fugitive suspect.
