The International Labour Organization (ILO) has deferred its decision about taking further action against Bangladesh's non-observance of three core conventions until next March.
According to the ILO's draft decision that is available on its official website, it also urged the government of Bangladesh to fully commit to a timely implementation of its road map of actions in all its priority areas and take all necessary action to that effect.
At the 108th ILO session in mid-June in 2019, labour representatives from Italy, Japan, South Africa, Pakistan and Brazil sought an enquiry commission against the government of Bangladesh.
Dhaka was accused of discontinuing convention 87 on freedom of association and right to organise, convention 98 on right to organise and collective bargaining, and convention 81 on labour inspection.
Taking note of the report on progress made with the implementation of the road map of actions to address all outstanding issues mentioned in the article 26 complaint concerning the alleged non-observance of Conventions Nos 81, 87 and 98, and mindful of the political changes which led to an interim government, the ILO Governing Body requested the government to report on further progress made in the implementation of the road map of actions to address all the outstanding issues mentioned in the article 26 complaint at its 356th Session (March 2026).
"...deferred the decision on further action in respect of the complaint to that session," read the draft decision.
Welcoming the measures taken by the government to advance the labour reform agenda, the ILO GB however, encouraged the government and the social partners to pursue their tripartite consultations on the labour law reform in a constructive manner with a view to bringing about all necessary reforms as a matter of priority, with the ILO technical assistance and the support that could be provided by the secretariats of the Employers' and Workers' groups.
The draft decisions came after the ILO GB's 353rd session held from March 10 to 20.
A Bangladeshi delegation led by Labour Adviser Dr M Sakhawat Hossain is now in Geneva and placed the progress report to the Body on Monday.
Under the leadership of the chief adviser, national consensus is being built on the reform of all sectors including the labor sector to achieve sustainable reforms, Mr Hossain said in a statement.
Mr Hossain informed the session that the current government has cancelled most of the cases filed against the workers and trade union leaders for political purposes and ensured the representation of the real workers and owners in the tripartite committees in the democratic process.
In the process of ongoing labour law amendment, he said tripartite consensus reached over the scope of the law to be extended to non-profit organisations, expansion of trade union rights for management, supervisory and administrative positions, three-fold increase in punishment for unfair labour practices and anti-union discrimination, five-fold increase in punishment for child labour, prohibition of forced labour, discrimination against women in the workplace, gender-based violence and discrimination and punishment for forced labour.
The National Tripartite Council also reached on a tripartite consensus on the definition, prohibition of blacklisting of workers and inclusion of provisions for its punishment.
He informed that there has been consensus on increasing the number of registered unions from three to five in a factory.
He, however, also informed that consensus has not yet been reached on some issues, including the minimum percentage or number of workers for trade union registration and assured that it will be achieved through tripartite discussions.
"Through this, the government will soon issue an ordinance to amend the law," he said.
After the amendment of the Bangladesh Labour Act, the government will take necessary initiatives by analyzing the differences between the existing EPZ Labor Act and the amended Bangladesh Labor Act, he said.
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