Govt mulls central body for trade unions
The government yesterday discussed ways of constituting a national-level trade union body to streamline the line of communication with labour leaders, as it plans to allow trade union rights to garment workers.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina elaborately discussed the issue with the cabinet members at a meeting and decided in principle to move forward with it.
She has assigned Textiles Minister Abdul Latif Siddique to work on the matter.
The government's latest stance comes in the wake of repeated calls from both national and international quarters to allow trade union, in compliance with the International Labour Organisation conventions.
“A discussion has taken place as to whether we can form such a body for the interests of the workers,” Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury told The Daily Star.
At present, there are more than 60 trade union bodies, and it becomes tough for the government to communicate with each of them on an individual basis when problems arise, she added.
With a central body, it would be easy for the authorities to talk to the workers and deal with their problems effectively, the prime minister said at the meeting, according to sources.
The cabinet also observed that the high-powered committee headed by Siddique needed more worker representatives.
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