US keen to work as partner in lowering trade union threshold, says Anisul

Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq has said the United States (US) wants to work with the Bangladesh government as a partner in lowering the trade union threshold in the labour sector.

"The US is very conscious of workers' rights, and it is a very important issue to them. It is also a matter of great importance to Bangladesh and the government of Awami League. It is so important that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina kept the helm of the Ministry of Labour and Employment in her hands," Anisul Huq told newsmen.

The law minister said these while briefing journalists after coming out of his meeting with US Embassy labour attaché Leena Khan and first secretary (political) Matthew Beh at his secretariat office on Sunday.

Law and Justice Division Secretary Md Golam Sarwar and Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division Additional Secretary Hafiz Ahmed Chowdhury were present, among others, at the time, reports BSS.

"We have discussed the labour rights issue with the labour attaché of the US Embassy there. This discussion has been going on with them since last year. We have discussed the progress of the discussion and the possibilities of further progress. Today we have discussed the labour amendment bill, which was sent by the President back to parliament. We have discussed the matter," the law minister added.

The law minister further said he would hold a meeting with a delegation of the Ministry of Labour and Employment on Wednesday. The meeting of the ILO governing body will be held in March, and they have already inquired about a couple of things from us to learn about our progress in the sector. We would inform them about those matters after this meeting, he said.

While replying to a question on the trade union threshold, the law minister said the US always had their say on this matter, adding, "We said that we have lowered this to 15 per cent. There was a condition that this would only be applicable to factories where the total number of workers would be three thousand or more. We can have a discussion on this matter."

"They said such factories are very few, where three thousand or more workers work. In reply, I have said that we can take a decision after discussing the matter with the stakeholders," he added.