Japanese MPs hail improved labour rights and conditions in Bangladesh

“We must admit that the labour environment has improved, but there is still room for further progress,” one MP says

A Japanese parliamentary delegation engaged in labour issues has praised improved working conditions in Bangladesh’s factories but insisted there was still work to be done.

“We must admit that the labour environment has improved, but there is still room for further progress,” said Kenta Izumi, member of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, said on Wednesday.

Izumi led the delegation members of the Japanese Parliamentarians' League of the International Labour Organization (ILO) as they paid a courtesy call on Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus at his official residence, the State Guest House Jamuna.

During the meeting, Izumi shared his observations from the delegates’ visits to factories both inside and outside EPZs.

Izumi added that during his visit to Japanese companies in Bangladesh, he felt a positive energy.

“We hope Japanese companies will invest more in infrastructure and other sectors,” he said.

Chief Advisor Yunus hailed Japan as a trusted friend of Bangladesh and thanked the country for its cooperation over the years.

He noted that the relationship between the two countries is multi-dimensional.

He highlighted that labour sector reform is one of the key priorities of Bangladesh’s interim government and noted that his Special Envoy Lutfey Siddiqi had been specifically tasked with the implementation of all the ILO conventions and ensuring their timely adoption.

“He is pushing everyone to get their job done,” Yunus said.

“We made it very clear that we should be apologetic about the labour issue and must work on it.”

He also sought Japanese support for deep-sea fishing projects in Matarbari and proposed initiatives to increase the number of Bangladeshi Technical Interns and Specified Skilled Workers (SSW) in Japanese companies.

“We plan to send 100,000 young people to Japan. They will receive language training, skill development, etiquette lessons, and even some history education. This is the beginning. In the future, we will send many more. We believe this is a wonderful opportunity for our young people to explore and showcase their creativity,” Yunus said.

The delegation included Michihiro Ishibashi, secretary general of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and member of the House of Councillors, Hanako Jimi, vice secretary general to the Liberal Democratic Party; Ryuji Satomi, Makiko Dogomi, independent MP; Maki Ikeda, member of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan; Mamoru Umetani, member of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan; and Atsushi Oshima, executive board member of the Democratic Party for the People.

Also present at the meeting were Special Envoy Lutfey and Senior Secretary on SDG Affairs Lamiya Morshed.