Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether her Department has made representations to the government of Bangladesh on trade union recognition and adherence to ILO core labour standards in that country's export processing zones.

These issues are regularly discussed through a forum known as the 3 + 5, as part of efforts to ensure the full implementation of the sustainability compact with the objective of improving labour standards in Bangladesh. The 3 + 5 group has representatives from three Ministries of the Government of Bangladesh and 5 donor partners, including the UK.

In addition, through the Private Sector Development Programme with the World Bank, DFID has supported the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority to develop a cadre of 60 labour counsellors who support improvements in labour standards in the zones.