EU for trade union in EPZs

European Union (EU) calls on Bangladesh government to allow trade union in the Export Processing Zones (EPZs) to ensure labour rights.

A five member delegation team of European Union (EU), led by Michael Sommer made the call while talking to Commerce Minister Tofael Ahmed at his Secretariat office on Thursday.

Tofael ahmed said that they (delegation team) demanded trade union in all EPZs as per the International Labour Organization (ILO) law.

“We have already made workers welfare association in all EPZs across the country”, he said adding that we gave a commitment to the authorities, who established factories in the area, as we don’t give permission to anybody to form trade union in those areas.

“But European Union wants trade union in the EPZ,” he added.

The minister said that they will discuss this issue with the parliamentary standing committee to find a way out.

“We have a long standing trade relation with the organization,” the minister added.

“Apparently, there is no dissatisfaction among the workers. The factories are running very well at the moment,” he demanded.

Michael Sommer, Vice Chairman of German Confederation of the Trade Unions (DGB) said that the relation between the two countries is very concrete.

Hailing Bangladesh effort after Rana Plaza collapse, he said that it is a very positive sign for Bangladesh that they brought back the situation under control within a short time.

(The article originally published in Bangla edition of Jagonews24.com is written in English by Zobaer Ahmed)