The government has sought more time to fulfil the pledges it made to improve labour conditions in Bangladesh.
The recruitment process of 200 factory inspectors is likely to be completed by June while an amendment to EPZ laws to allow freedom of association might be made by October.
Transparent database on factories is likely to be brought up-to-date by May and formulation of labour rules is expected to be completed by July.
“We could not fulfil some pledges within the timeline and we set new deadline today,” said Labour Secretary Mikail Shipar after meeting with five ambassadors at the secretariat yesterday.
Chaired by Commerce Secretary Mahbub Ahmed, the meeting was also attended by Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque.
After the two tragic incidents – Tazreen fire and Rana Plaza collapse - the government last year took steps to improve labour conditions by implementing the pledges it made to minimise the risk of the recurrence of such incidents.
“The envoys suggested improving the transparent database by including the findings of Alliance and Accord in it,” the labour secretary said.
In the database, some basic statements are included and the government will insert more information in the database by May, he said.
“They also raised the issue of amendment to EPZ laws so that workers can enjoy freedom of association and we told them that we hope to complete it by October,” Shipar said.
After the meeting, European Union Ambassador William Hanna said they discussed the inspection of factories and database, recruitment of inspectors, and labour laws and its implementation.
“We looked at the question of inspection of the factories and the database, so the information about the inspection will be made available,” Hanna said.
He said protection of workers’ rights is very important and it did not happen in Rana Plaza.
Development partners are working with the government, manufacturers, unions and ILO to improve labour conditions in the country, he said. “We made good progress today and so much more needs to be done.”
US Ambassador Dan Mozena, British High Commissioner Robert Gibson, Canadian High Commissioner Heather Cruden and Dutch Ambassador Gerben Sjoerd de Jong also attended the meeting.
