The government has apprised the visiting high-powered European Commission delegation of proposed changes in the labour law, people involved with the process said.
But rights groups pointed out various barriers including unionisation and collective bargaining, they added.
Bangladesh's future to sustain trade benefits in the European Union (EU) market largely depends on the report of the delegation that concluded its six-day visit scrutinising the labour rights situation in the country, they said.
Based on the team's report they said, the EU might decide whether it should launch an investigation to assess Bangladesh's eligibility for GSP facility.
The Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) is given under the EU's EBA (Everything But Arms) arrangement, they added.
"The delegation mainly wanted to know about six key labour issues including extending coverage of freedom of association and collective bargaining, legislative protection against any interference in trade union activities, facilitation of trade union registration, prevention of anti-union discrimination, and elimination of forced and child labour," a top government official told the FE.
"We have explained our position and presented details about the proposed changes in the labour law," he said, adding that the delegation wanted to know details whether Bangladesh has addressed the ILO's recommendations.
Quoting the delegation, another government official said improving the labour rights situation in line with ILO's prescription is very much important to sustain the EU's GSP benefits under its EBA regime.
The team reiterated the EU's previous stance that Bangladesh should take concrete and lasting measures to ensure the respect of labour rights to remain eligible for the EBA regime and Bangladesh is the top beneficiary of the EBA scheme, they said.
Both the officials, however, did not say whether the delegation was satisfied with the country's labour rights situation adding that they were highly diplomatic.
They, however, were informed that the EU would wait to decide its next course of action till November when the ILO's governing body will meet and place a review on Bangladesh.
The six-member 'EBA Technical Mission to Bangladesh on Labour rights' arrived in Dhaka on September 11 and held a series of meetings with top government officials, Bangladesh Employers Federation, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association, ILO, different rights groups, and NGOs.
During the meeting with labour leaders, the delegation wanted to know about the real labour rights situation in the country especially in the readymade garment sector, a labour leader said.
Rights group informed that only 15 per cent of workforce in the country has trade union coverage and the rejection rate of trade union registration application is still high.
They aired concern over the proposed reduction in 20 per cent membership threshold for trade union registration, saying that the rate is applicable to the factories having more than 2,000 workers.
"The proposed reduction is not workers-friendly as the majority of the factories are small and medium sized," one of the leaders said.
The rights groups also informed the delegation that the amount of proposed compensation in the labour law is not sufficient and not in line with ILO convention.
Though the number of trade unions has increased, all the unions are not functional and the majority of them were formed guided by factory authorities, they alleged.
The European Commission (EC) has repeatedly aired its concern over the issue in respect of freedom of association and successful implementation of the 'Compact' in the RMG sector here.
In March 2017, it warned Bangladesh of temporary withdrawal of the preferential trade facility if it fails to implement the ILO's recommendations.
The EC also warned of taking steps, including launching investigation, to improve the situation ahead of withdrawal of the existing GSP trade facility followed by mounting pressure from different groups there.
