President of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) Michael Sommer on Tuesday called for more rights for trade unions as a necessary precondition for establishing true social partnership among employers, workers, and the government.
Sommer, also the Chairman of Confederation of German Trade Unions (CGTU), made the call while addressing a multi-stakeholder round table arranged by the Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS) and Friedrich Ebert Foundation in the city.
He also stressed the importance of involving trade unions as equal partners in international inspection initiatives.
Sommer arrived here on Sunday to learn about the current situation and the perspectives of the labour movement in Bangladesh.
With the first anniversary of the Rana Plaza collapse coming up soon, he saw the progress on post-Rana Plaza initiatives like implementing The Accord on Fire and Building Safety 2013, an agreement between domestic and international trade unions and international brands and retailers.
He visited a couple of textile factories to get an impression of the conditions under which garments for international buyers are produced. Germany imports 17 percent of all readymade garments produced in Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, the ITUC President met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the State Minister for Labour and Employment M Mujibul Haque Chunnu.
