VZCZCXRO9286
PP RUEHCI
DE RUEHKA #1006 2671039
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 231039Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY DHAKA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7432
INFO RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO PRIORITY 8616
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 2346
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 9860
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 0832
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA PRIORITY 1458

UNCLAS DHAKA 001006 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ELAB ETRD SOCI PGOV KWMN BG
SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT OF BANGLADESH EASES BAN ON TRADE UNION 
ACTIVITIES ) LABOR SKEPTICAL. 
 
Summary 
======= 
¶1.  (U) The Government of Bangladesh (GOB) recently announced 
a partial relaxation of the ban on trade union activities in 
place under the State of Emergency since January 2007.  The 
new measures allow union activities, but limit the size of 
gatherings and require advance permission in certain cases. 
NGOs remain dissatisfied with the government,s actions, 
however, and call for a full lifting of the ban on trade 
union activities. 
 
The devil is in the details 
=========================== 
¶2.  (U) The Caretaker Government had banned all trade union 
activity as part of the general State of Emergency in effect 
since January 2007.  Trade unions were prevented from 
performing basic functions including holding meetings, 
conducting internal elections and engaging in collective 
bargaining.  On September 7th, the GOB announced a partial 
relaxation of the ban.  The new rules limit the size of any 
meeting to no more than 500 people and require 48 hours 
notice to authorities if the gathering is to be larger than 
100 people.  The rules also stipulate that meetings can only 
be held indoors and that no live broadcast of the proceedings 
on television or radio will be permitted.  Moreover, no 
political discussions will be allowed; individuals will only 
be allowed to discuss labor-related matters. 
 
¶3.  (U) In meetings with the Ministry of Labor, officials 
said the ban was relaxed so trade unions could carry out 
administrative tasks and fulfill certain financial 
obligations.  Labor officials expressed the hope that the ban 
would be relaxed further after national elections in 
December.  They agreed there was a need for constructive 
trade union activity in Bangladesh. 
 
Confusion and skepticism reign 
============================== 
¶4.  (SBU) Workers, rights groups remain deeply skeptical 
that this action will benefit workers in the long run.  Labor 
activists called for an end to the State of Emergency and a 
lifting of all restrictions on union activities.  The Country 
Director of the American Center for International Labor 
Solidarity (ACILS), the international development arm of the 
AFL-CIO, reported that NGOs had not yet been able to obtain a 
copy of the official notice announcing the new rules on union 
activity and there was much confusion about the details of 
the regulations.  He noted that the GOB had allowed elections 
that would permit workers to decide which unions can 
collectively bargain with employers, but it was not yet clear 
if the new regulations permitted elections to select union 
leadership.  He added that there were still bans on 
negotiation with management and on the formation of new trade 
unions. 
 
Comment 
======= 
¶5.  (SBU) It remains to be seen what the full impact of these 
new measures will be on workers.  Organized labor is correct 
in pointing out that these are only interim steps and more 
action is necessary if full rights of association are to be 
restored.  For its part, the Caretaker Government undoubtedly 
remains concerned that trade unions could be used by the 
political parties to advance their goals and foment civil 
unrest, a common occurrence in Bangladesh,s history.  Post 
will continue to urge the GOB to support constructive 
endeavors to protect the rights of workers, including a full 
lifting of the ban on trade union activities. 
Moriarty