In a landmark move aimed at reshaping Bangladesh’s labor landscape, the Labour Reform Commission has submitted a comprehensive report to Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, advocating for sweeping legal reforms to extend protections to all workers, including those in informal sectors.
The 200-page report, the culmination of extensive consultations with over 160 labor, farmer, women’s, and rights organizations, highlights the systemic exclusion of informal, agricultural, and domestic workers from existing labor laws, particularly the Labour Act of 2006. These groups constitute a significant portion of the workforce yet remain outside the purview of statutory protections.
“This report is not just about workers’ rights; it is about fulfilling the constitutional mandate to eliminate all forms of exploitation and uphold the dignity of the working people,” stated Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed, chair of the commission and executive director of the Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS), during the formal submission of the report. Key Recommendations:
- Universal Labor Protections: The commission urges the government to enact reforms that would extend labor rights and entitlements to all workers, regardless of sector, contract status, or geographic location.
- Inclusive Definition of ‘Worker’: A call for a broadened legal definition of ‘worker’ to encompass those in informal employment, including agricultural laborers, domestic workers, and gig economy participants.
Digital Labor ID System: Proposal for the implementation of a digital labor identification and registration system to ensure legal recognition and access to rights for all workers. - Minimum Wage Revisions: The establishment of a permanent national minimum wage commission to oversee fair wage standards across sectors, with revisions every three years.
- Social Protection Measures: Recommendations include universal access to healthcare, workplace insurance, and codified compensation standards for industrial accidents and disabilities, extending to non-formal workers.
The commission emphasizes that these reforms are essential to align national laws with International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions and constitutional commitments.
The interim government, which formed the 10-member Labour Reform Commission on November 17, 2024, is now tasked with considering these recommendations to ensure equitable labor rights and protections for all segments of the workforce.
