More Promises About Labor Reform in Bangladesh Under pressure to respond to the collapse of a factory building that killed more than 1,100 people, the government of Bangladesh recently pledged to impose reforms to its labor laws and safety standards. If carried out fully, the much-delayed changes could go a long way toward improving working conditions in the country's garment industry. But that is a big if. In an announcement with the International Labor Organization, the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that it would introduce legislation as soon as next month to make it possible for workers to form unions and collectively bargain with management on wages and working conditions. It also promised to inspect thousands of factories and hire and train 200 occupational safety inspectors by the end of the year. In a positive sign, the government temporarily shut 18 unsafe factories last week, and now it is moving toward raising the minimum wage. Unfortunately, various Bangladeshi governments, including Ms. Hasina's, have repeatedly made and broken similar promises. The government has previously pledged to make it easier for workers to form unions. Yet Bangladesh, one of the largest garment suppliers to Europe and the United States, has admitted to the I.L.O. that there are just 11 collective bargaining agreements. And organizing workers remains perilous, as the murder of a labor leader last year showed. As far as factory inspections go, The Daily Star, a Bangladeshi newspaper, reported that the country had just 51 inspectors (52 positions are vacant) to watch over 200,000 factories, including about 5,000 that make apparel. Many labor groups are skeptical about Ms. Hasina's promises. For one thing, the government has not agreed to make it illegal to fire employees who are trying to organize workers, a classic union-busting tactic. It is also unclear whether workers will be allowed to bring safety experts with them to the bargaining table so union leaders can properly evaluate management proposals. The deadly disasters in Bangladesh - including a fire last week that killed at least eight people - have also put pressure on big international brands and retailers to focus on workplace safety. Most Western companies say they respect the right to unionize but have done little on that front. They should actively press factory owners to honor the right of workers to negotiate for better conditions.