Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen. Photo : Collected
Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen said to reporters that the visiting delegation of the European Union (EU) during their meeting with the government on Wednesday (15 November) 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.
He said this after the EU team's meeting with the foreign, labour and commerce secretaries at the state guesthouse Padma.
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.
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.
They 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.
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.
The delegation arrived in Dhaka on Sunday to have discussions with relevant stakeholders in the country's labour sector.
Messenger/Nargis
