US keen to support Bangladesh to improve labor rights condition in Bangladesh-US Labor Secretary tells Bangladesh Labor Minister

USA NEWS: “USA is very keen to work with the Better Work Program(BWP)  for improving labor rights condition of the RMG sector in Bangladesh”-  Hilda L. Solis, Secretary of Labor of  the  United States  said this while she received  Engr. Khandker Mosharraf Hossain, MP, Minister for Labour & Employment and Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment at her office on Wednesday, February 2.

Highlighting on the importance of the garment sector of Bangladesh in employment generation, women empowerment and export earnings, the Bangladesh Minister mentioned on the various steps taken by the present democratic government for welfare of the garments workers. Referring to the ongoing review for amendment of the existing Labour Act 2006 and the inputs to be received from ILO on the law, Minister stressed on the support from the Department  of Labor, especially for pushing forward the proposed Better Work Program. In response, the US Labor Secretary assured him their all out support for the program, informing that a team from ILO will be visiting Bangladesh from February 7-18, 2011 as a part of  a feasibility study on the program. US labor Secretary informed  that after receiving the report from the ILO, she would send a team from her Department to Bangladesh for framing the modalities of cooperation for the program. US Labor Secretary  urged Bangladesh to make necessary amendments to the legal framework of the existing  labour law as soon as possible.

In response to the concerns expressed by the US side about the developments following cancellation of registration for the US-funded Bangladesh Center for Workers Solidarity (BCWS) and arrest of its leaders by the Bangladesh Government in the last summer,  Akramul Qader, Bangladesh Ambassador to USA who accompanied the Minister clarified that given the involvement of the arrestees in the unlawful activities and vandalism, the Government had no other option but to go for legal course. Minister stressed that all actions were taken in an transparent manner and with due regard to legal process. Minister invited the US Labor Secretary to visit Bangladesh which she gladly accepted.

The Bangladesh Ambassador hosted a dinner on 2 February, at his Residence  in   honor of the visiting  Minister  which was attended by  James  Moriarty, US Ambassador to Bangladesh, Ambassador Luis CdeBaca, Ambassador-at-Large on trafficking, Senior officials at the US Government and  Embassy officers, among others. The dinner was  preceded    by a meeting at the Residence between the  Minister and Ambassador Luis CdeBaca, Ambassador-at-Large on trafficking. During the  meeting, both broadly discussed  on  the issue of human trafficking, and agreed to continue cooperation in this regard. The US side lauded initiative of the Bangladesh Government to  finalize the draft on “The Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act, 2011″.

Earlier in the morning, the Bangladesh Labor  Minister had a meeting with  Arup Banarjee, Director at the  Social Protection and Labor Division of the World Bank. Held at the Washington Hilton, they discussed about the proposed construction of the training centers at district  Headquarters in Bangladesh under the auspices of the Ministry of  Labor. World Bank evinced   keen interest to participate in this regard. Akramul Qader and Kazi Aminul  Islam, Alternate Executive Director at the World Bank were also in attendance. Minister also attended  the International  Luncheon yesterday along with local and foreign dignitaries.