Ilo & BD
Ilo & BD
Executive Summary:
This paper explores the implementation of International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions
in the Bangladesh labour law, the challenges faced in enforcing these conventions, and the
strategies required to overcome these challenges. The study adopts a qualitative research
methodology, including literature review and analysis of relevant laws and regulations.
The study finds that despite having the necessary legal framework, the enforcement of labour
laws in Bangladesh faces several challenges, including insufficient resources, inadequate training
of labour inspectors, and lack of awareness among workers about their rights. The inadequate
number of labour inspectors makes it difficult to ensure compliance with labour laws, and many
inspectors lack the necessary knowledge and skills to enforce the labour laws effectively. The
government needs to provide adequate training to labour inspectors to ensure that they can
identify and address labour law violations. Moreover, workers in Bangladesh are unaware of the
labour laws and their rights, making it difficult for them to report labour law violations. The
government needs to increase awareness-raising campaigns to educate workers about their rights
and the labour laws.
The paper recommends that the government needs to strengthen its enforcement mechanisms and
increase its awareness-raising campaigns to ensure the implementation of ILO conventions in
Bangladesh. The findings of this study will be useful for policymakers, labour rights activists,
and other stakeholders involved in promoting decent work for all in Bangladesh.
Introduction:
Labour laws play a significant role in protecting workers' rights and promoting decent work for
all. The International Labour Organization (ILO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations
system that aims to promote social justice and decent work for all individuals. Bangladesh is a
member state of the ILO and has ratified several conventions and recommendations of the
organization to ensure workers' rights. However, the implementation of these conventions in the
Bangladesh labour law faces several challenges. This paper aims to explore the implementation
of ILO conventions in the Bangladesh labour law, the challenges faced in enforcing these
conventions, and the strategies required to overcome these challenges.
The Bangladesh labour law is designed to ensure the protection of workers' rights and promote
decent work for all. The International Labour Organization (ILO) is a specialized agency of the
United Nations system that aims to promote social justice and decent work for all individuals.
Bangladesh is a member state of the ILO and has ratified several conventions and
recommendations of the organization to ensure workers' rights. However, the implementation of
these conventions in the Bangladesh labour law faces several challenges. This paper aims to
explore the implementation of ILO conventions in the Bangladesh labour law, the challenges
faced in enforcing these conventions, and the strategies required to overcome these challenges.
The labour market in Bangladesh is diverse, with workers employed in both the formal and
informal sectors. The informal sector accounts for a significant proportion of the country's
workforce, with many workers employed in agriculture, small-scale manufacturing, and services.
The formal sector includes industries such as textiles, readymade garments, and construction.
The workers in the formal sector enjoy better working conditions, higher wages, and greater
protection of their rights than those in the informal sector.
Despite the existence of labour laws and regulations, labour law violations are widespread in
Bangladesh. Workers face a range of issues, including low wages, long working hours, unsafe
working conditions, and limited access to social protection. Child labour and forced labour are
also prevalent in some industries. The government's efforts to enforce labour laws have been
inadequate, and the enforcement mechanisms face several challenges.
The paper will explore the implementation of ILO conventions in the Bangladesh labour law and
the challenges faced in enforcing these conventions. The study will analyze the relevant literature
on the subject and examine the laws and regulations that govern workers' rights in Bangladesh.
The study will also recommend strategies required to overcome the challenges faced in enforcing
the labour laws and ensuring the implementation of ILO conventions in Bangladesh. The
findings of this study will be useful for policymakers, labour rights activists, and other
stakeholders involved in promoting decent work for all in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh labour law regulation:
The Bangladesh labour law is a set of legal regulations that governs the labour market in
Bangladesh. The law aims to ensure the protection of workers' rights, promote decent work for
all, and provide a legal framework for resolving disputes between employers and workers. The
following are some of the key provisions of the Bangladesh labour law:
Employment contracts: The law requires employers to provide written contracts to their
employees, specifying their terms and conditions of employment. The contracts must include
information such as the job description, wages, hours of work, and benefits.
Minimum wage: The law sets a minimum wage for workers in different industries. Employers
are required to pay their workers at least the minimum wage for their respective industries.
Working hours: The law limits the maximum number of working hours per week to 48 hours.
Workers who work more than 48 hours per week are entitled to overtime pay.
Holidays and leave: The law provides for paid annual leave, sick leave, and maternity leave.
Workers are entitled to a certain number of days of paid leave per year, depending on their length
of service.
Health and safety: The law requires employers to provide a safe and healthy working
environment for their employees. Employers must take measures to prevent accidents, injuries,
and illnesses in the workplace.
Child labour: The law prohibits the employment of children under the age of 14 in any
occupation. Children between the ages of 14 and 18 can work only in certain industries and
under certain conditions.
Collective bargaining: The law recognizes the right of workers to form trade unions and engage
in collective bargaining with their employers.
The Bangladesh labour law regulates the employment of both local and foreign workers in the
country. It applies to all types of establishments, including factories, offices, shops, and other
commercial enterprises. The law also applies to workers in the informal sector, although
enforcement in this sector is challenging due to its decentralized nature.
One of the key provisions of the Bangladesh labour law is the requirement for written
employment contracts. Employers are required to provide a written contract to their employees
within the first three months of employment. The contract must specify the terms and conditions
of employment, including the nature of the work, hours of work, wages, benefits, and other
relevant information.
The law sets a minimum wage for workers in different industries. The minimum wage is
periodically revised by the government based on inflation and other factors. The law also
provides for overtime pay for workers who work more than the maximum number of hours per
week. Employers are required to pay workers overtime pay at a rate of one and a half times their
regular hourly wage.
The Bangladesh labour law also provides for paid leave for workers. Workers are entitled to a
certain number of days of annual leave, sick leave, and maternity leave. The law requires
employers to provide a safe and healthy working environment for their employees. Employers
must take measures to prevent accidents, injuries, and illnesses in the workplace.
The law also prohibits the employment of children under the age of 14 in any occupation.
Children between the ages of 14 and 18 can work only in certain industries and under certain
conditions. The law recognizes the right of workers to form trade unions and engage in collective
bargaining with their employers.
The implementation of the Bangladesh labour law faces several challenges, including inadequate
enforcement mechanisms and lack of awareness among workers about their rights. The
government needs to strengthen its enforcement mechanisms and increase awareness-raising
campaigns to ensure the implementation of the labour law and the protection of workers' rights.
ILO introductory:
The International Labour Organization (ILO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that
was established in 1919. The ILO's mandate is to promote social justice and promote decent
work for all. The ILO works to advance opportunities for women and men to obtain decent and
productive work, in conditions of freedom, equity, security, and human dignity.
The ILO's work is guided by international labour standards, which are legally binding
conventions and recommendations on labour and social issues. The ILO has adopted over 190
international labour standards covering a wide range of topics, including child labour, forced
labour, minimum age for employment, occupational safety and health, social security, and
collective bargaining. The standards provide a framework for countries to protect workers' rights
and promote decent work.
The ILO works with governments, employers' and workers' organizations, and civil society to
promote decent work and social justice. The ILO provides technical assistance and advisory
services to member states to support the implementation of international labour standards and the
promotion of decent work. The ILO also conducts research and analysis to generate knowledge
and evidence on labour and social issues and to inform its policy and programme development.
The ILO's work is based on four strategic objectives: promoting rights at work, promoting decent
employment opportunities, enhancing social protection, and strengthening social dialogue. The
ILO works to achieve these objectives through its technical cooperation programme, advocacy,
and research and analysis.
The ILO's work is relevant to countries around the world, including Bangladesh. The ILO has
worked with the Bangladesh government, employers' and workers' organizations, and civil
society to promote decent work and social justice in the country. The ILO has provided technical
assistance and advisory services to support the implementation of international labour standards
and the promotion of decent work in Bangladesh.
The ILO's work in Bangladesh has focused on a range of labour and social issues, including child
labour, forced labour, occupational safety and health, social protection, and gender equality. The
ILO has worked closely with the Bangladesh government and social partners to address these
issues and promote decent work in the country.
One of the ILO's key areas of focus in Bangladesh has been the elimination of child labour. The
ILO has worked with the government and social partners to develop and implement policies and
programs to prevent and eliminate child labour in the country. The ILO has also provided
technical assistance and advisory services to support the implementation of the Bangladesh
National Child Labour Elimination Policy.
The ILO has also been involved in efforts to eliminate forced labour in Bangladesh. The ILO has
worked with the government, employers' and workers' organizations, and civil society to raise
awareness about forced labour and to strengthen the legal and policy framework to prevent and
eliminate forced labour in the country.
In the area of occupational safety and health, the ILO has worked with the Bangladesh
government and social partners to improve working conditions and reduce workplace accidents
and injuries. The ILO has provided technical assistance and advisory services to support the
development and implementation of national policies and programs on occupational safety and
health.
The ILO has also worked to promote social protection in Bangladesh. The ILO has supported the
development and implementation of social protection policies and programs in the country,
including the National Social Security Strategy.
In the area of gender equality, the ILO has worked with the government and social partners to
promote women's rights and gender equality in the workplace. The ILO has provided technical
assistance and advisory services to support the development and implementation of policies and
programs to promote women's rights and gender equality in the workplace.
Overall, the ILO's work in Bangladesh has been aimed at promoting decent work and social
justice in the country. The ILO's efforts have contributed to the improvement of working
conditions, the protection of workers' rights, and the promotion of social justice in Bangladesh.
The Bangladesh government has worked closely with the ILO to align the country's labour laws
and policies with the ILO's international labour standards. The ILO has provided technical
assistance and advisory services to support the development and implementation of labour laws
and policies in Bangladesh. The ILO has also conducted research and analysis to inform the
development of labour laws and policies in the country.
The Bangladesh Labour Law is an important tool for protecting workers' rights and promoting
decent work in the country. Its alignment with the ILO's international labour standards ensures
that workers in Bangladesh are afforded the same rights and protections as workers in other
countries around the world. The ILO's support for the development and implementation of the
Bangladesh Labour Law has contributed to the promotion of decent work and social justice in
the country.
The Bangladesh Labour Law is a comprehensive legal framework that sets out the rights and
responsibilities of employers and workers in the country. The law covers a wide range of issues
related to employment, including working conditions, wages, hours of work, occupational safety
and health, social security, and labour relations.
The Bangladesh Labour Law is closely related to the ILO's international labour standards, which
provide a framework for countries to protect workers' rights and promote decent work. The ILO
has worked closely with the Bangladesh government and social partners to align the country's
labour laws and policies with its international labour standards.
One example of the alignment between the Bangladesh Labour Law and the ILO's international
labour standards is the provision for freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining.
The Bangladesh Labour Law guarantees workers the right to form and join trade unions, and to
bargain collectively with employers. This provision is in line with the ILO's Convention on
Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize.
The Bangladesh Labour Law also includes provisions related to forced labour and child labour,
which are key areas of focus for the ILO. The law prohibits forced labour and provides for
measures to prevent and eliminate it. It also sets out strict regulations to prevent the employment
of children under the age of 14, in line with the ILO's Convention on the Worst Forms of Child
Labour.
In the area of occupational safety and health, the Bangladesh Labour Law requires employers to
provide a safe and healthy working environment for their employees, and to take measures to
prevent accidents and injuries at work. This provision is in line with the ILO's Convention on
Occupational Safety and Health.
The ILO has provided technical assistance and advisory services to support the development and
implementation of the Bangladesh Labour Law. The ILO has also conducted research and
analysis to inform the development of labour laws and policies in the country.
Overall, the alignment between the Bangladesh Labour Law and the ILO's international labour
standards is important for promoting decent work and social justice in the country. The ILO's
support for the development and implementation of the labour law has contributed to the
protection of workers' rights and the promotion of social justice in Bangladesh.
Supply chain complexity: Many of the goods produced in Bangladesh are part of global supply
chains, which can make it difficult to enforce labour conventions. Companies operating in
Bangladesh may be held accountable for labour violations in their supply chains, but monitoring
and enforcement can be challenging. Improving transparency in supply chains and promoting
responsible business conduct could help address this challenge.
Addressing these challenges will require a multi-stakeholder approach, involving the
government, employers, workers, civil society organizations, and international organizations.
This could involve improving institutional capacity, promoting awareness of labour rights,
strengthening workers' collective bargaining power, and promoting responsible business conduct
in global supply chains.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the International Labour Organization (ILO) has played an important role in
promoting labour rights and protections in Bangladesh. Bangladesh has ratified several ILO
conventions, and the country's labour laws and regulations reflect many of the principles
enshrined in these conventions. However, enforcing labour conventions in Bangladesh can be
challenging, as the country faces several obstacles, such as weak institutional capacity, a large
informal economy, limited unionization, and supply chain complexity.
To address these challenges, a multi-stakeholder approach is required, involving the government,
employers, workers, civil society organizations, and international organizations. Strategies to
strengthen institutional capacity, extend labour protections to informal sector workers, promote
awareness of labour rights, strengthen workers' collective bargaining power, and promote
responsible business conduct in global supply chains could help overcome these challenges.
By implementing these strategies, Bangladesh can move closer towards ensuring that all workers
in the country are protected by labour laws and conventions. This would not only benefit workers
but would also contribute to the country's economic development and the achievement of the
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
References:
4. Rahman, M. M., & Khan, M. (2019). Labour law compliance and enforcement in
Bangladesh: The role of labour inspection. The Journal of Development Studies, 55(3),
522-537. doi: 10.1080/00220388.2017.1413546
5. Ullah, A. (2017). Enforcing labour rights in Bangladesh: The role of the International
Labour Organization. The Indian Journal of Industrial Relations, 53(3), 453-466