The International Labour Organization (ILO) has once again asked the Government of Bangladesh to ensure robust labour laws which could be able to meet the ILO convention rules as told earlier.
The expert committee of the body has also asked Bangladesh, globally the second-largest apparel exporter, for ensuring the draft EPZ Labour Act allows freedom of association for workers’ and employers’ organisations and is brought into conformity with the provisions of the convention.
The ILO insistence has come at a time when Bangladesh is working to amend the existing labour laws to ensure better labour rights under the pressure from global communities including the European Union (EU).
Last year at the International Labour Conference, the ILO’s annual meeting, Bangladesh was asked to revise the labour laws as the workers were not able to exercise the full liberty of association and creation of trade unions.
Mujibul Haque Chunnu, Bangladesh State Minister for Labour and Employment, said that the Government is on the verge of forming the strong labour laws which will ensure all the necessary requirements submitted by the ILO expert panel. “We have submitted the draft of the amendment to the ILO for its remarks. We would place it in the next session of the Parliament to approve it as a law,” the Minister underlined.
