The Ministry of Labor and Employment has finalized the draft of the labor law amendment, disregarding many objections raised by workers’ representatives. The draft will be shown to Chief Advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus on Tuesday and will also be presented at the International Labor Organization (ILO) Governing Body meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, from March 10-20.
Sources from the Ministry of Labor and Employment confirmed that the amendment will not be enacted by March, as the necessary steps for completion will take more time after the team returns from the ILO meeting. The labor law amendment will be issued as an ordinance once it is approved by the Cabinet Division and the Advisory Council.
A delegation led by Labor and Employment Advisor Brigadier General (Retd) M Sakhawat Hossain is scheduled to attend the ILO meeting in Geneva. The team will include senior officials from the Ministry of Labor and Employment.
Despite efforts to address labor rights concerns, the draft has drawn criticism from workers’ representatives, particularly from the garment sector. Issues raised include the exclusion of workers’ provident funds and gratuities as mandatory, limitations on the right to form independent trade unions, and inadequate provisions for maternity leave and job security. Workers have also expressed concerns about the amendment’s failure to align with ILO standards, particularly regarding informal sector workers and their rights to benefits.
Labor leader Rajequzzaman Ratan emphasized that the amendment does not prioritize workers’ needs and conflicts with several ILO conventions, including those relating to maternity leave and job security for all workers.
