Each factory within the EPZs will have a single trade union free from any outside political influence and union leaders will be elected by workers themselves.

Finance Minister M Saifur Rahman, Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (Bepza), US Ambassador Harry K Thomas, World Bank Country Director Christine Wallich and a representative of the investors agreed on the corrected draft proposal during a meeting at the finance ministry yesterday.

The revision follows a series of discussions on the subject over the last six months.

"We have unanimously endorsed the revised draft proposal and the draft law might be presented in the next budget session of the parliament," said Executive Chairman of Bepza Brig Gen (retd) Zakir Hossain while talking to reporters after the meeting.

Hossain said in the event that workers vote against trade unionism, the workers' welfare association currently in place will continue to function as it is.

The investor representative, however, declined to make any comment when journalists repeatedly asked him about the meeting.

US Ambassador Harry K Thomas expressed his satisfaction at the finance ministry's decision to go along with the proposal and hoped higher authorities in Washington would also be satisfied with the outcome.

Since 1991, the US has been pushing for a decision on the contentious issue of trade unionism at the EPZs.

Thomas said for the last four months he held discussions on the matter with all parties concerned and is happy that a consensus could finally been reached.

He said the draft proposal is a very long and complicated legal document. "It will allow for workers to vote on the trade union issue and also to decide whether or not to have a collective bargaining agent within the EPZs."