Bangladesh Committed to Labor Reforms, Adviser Tells ILO

The interim government of Bangladesh, under the leadership of Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus, remains fully committed to advancing sustainable labor reforms through national consensus and broad stakeholder participation, according to Labor and Employment Adviser Dr. M. Sakhawat Hossain.

Addressing the 353rd Governing Body Session of the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Geneva on Monday, Dr. Hossain emphasized the government’s ongoing efforts to ensure inclusive and democratic labor reforms. Chief Adviser’s Special Envoy for International Affairs, Professor Lutfe Siddiqui, was also present at the session.

In response to ongoing concerns about Bangladesh's labor practices, Dr. Hossain presented an update on the country's labor sector progress, marking the second such discussion under the current administration. He noted that the government had dismissed most politically motivated cases against workers and trade union leaders, while ensuring fair democratic representation for both workers and employers in tripartite committees.

Dr. Hossain highlighted the recent tripartite consensus reached on key amendments to the Bangladesh Labour Law, including extending trade union rights to management, supervisory, and administrative positions. While some issues, such as the minimum percentage of workers required for union registration, are still under discussion, he assured that these would be resolved through continued dialogue among all stakeholders. The government plans to issue an ordinance to finalize these amendments soon.

In addition, Dr. Hossain noted that discussions were ongoing regarding amendments to the EPZ Labor Law, aiming to align it with the revised Bangladesh Labor Law. He assured that necessary steps would be taken based on a comparative analysis of both laws.

He also shared that 50 percent of factory and establishment inspections are currently conducted unannounced under the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), and vacant labor inspector positions would be filled promptly to ensure better oversight.

The adviser also reported strong international support for Bangladesh's labor reforms. Representatives from developing countries in Asia and Africa praised the government's progress and called for the swift closure of the ongoing complaint process against the country. For the first time in five years, the Arab Group of member states expressed unanimous support for Bangladesh, setting a unique precedent at the ILO.

Additionally, 18 other countries independently expressed their admiration for Bangladesh's labor reforms, marking the highest level of international backing the country has received in this area. Several development partner countries pledged continued cooperation in implementing the reforms.

Notably, no member of the ILO Governing Body called for an investigation against Bangladesh during the session. As a result of the discussions, the next hearing regarding the ongoing complaint was postponed from November 2025 to March 2026, as part of a constructive approach toward cooperation.

Dr. Hossain expressed gratitude for the international community’s ongoing support, citing the visit of UN Secretary-General António Guterres as further confirmation of Bangladesh’s commitment to labor rights. He also invited the ILO’s tripartite team and other delegations to visit Bangladesh to observe firsthand the government's labor sector reforms.

In his concluding remarks, Dr. Hossain called on the international community to support the swift resolution of the ongoing case against Bangladesh, reinforcing the country’s commitment to improving labor rights and standards.