A joint workshop hosted by the Solidarity Centre and the Bangladesh Institute of Labor Studies (BILS) emphasised the critical need for inclusive amendments to labour laws in order to ensure a discrimination-free work environment and uphold workers' dignity in the country.
Speakers at the workshop noted that while international advancements have been made regarding labour rights, the situation for workers in Bangladesh has deteriorated.
They argued that recent amendments to the labour laws have failed to meet expectations in various areas, including the protection of workers across different sectors, simplifying the formation of trade unions, increasing penalties for employers who violate labour laws, enhancing maternity leave, preventing workplace harassment, expediting judicial processes in labour courts, and ensuring adequate compensation for affected workers.
They pointed out that the society is still lagging in establishing the dignity of workers and has not yet guaranteed a discrimination-free labour environment.
The existence of separate labour laws for different sectors, such as those for Export Processing Zones (EPZs), has resulted in disparities in workers' rights, said the speakers, highlighting that informal sectors remain unprotected under labour laws, placing workers at significant risk.
The workshop, held at a hotel in the capital, featured speakers including AKM Nasim, Country Programme Director of the Solidarity Centre, Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed, Executive Director of BILS and various trade union leaders.
Programme Officer of Solidarity Centre Advocate Nazrul Islam presented the keynote paper.
During the discussions, speakers emphasised that merely adding or modifying a few sections of labour laws would not yield desired outcomes.
They called for a comprehensive restructuring of the tripartite system involving the government, employers, and workers to achieve a balance of power among these parties.
They criticised the National Tripartite Consultative Council (NTCC) and other committees for their limited capacity to provide only recommendations, which is a significant weakness in the reform process.
Speakers stressed the need for the government to take appropriate measures for comprehensive amendments to labour laws, urging lawyers and judges in labour courts to adopt a proactive role.
They highlighted the necessity of defining informal workers, categorizing all workers for social protection, and bringing all informal workers, including domestic and construction workers, under the protection of labour laws.
The workshop also called for ensuring labour protections for workers in the IT sector, platform economy, and among expatriate workers, who are often referred to as 'remittance warriors'.