The Bangladesh government has called for withdrawal of the Article 26 complaint lodged with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) against the country for non-compliance with three core conventions.
The complainants also proposed forming a commission of enquiry to investigate Bangladesh's non-observance of these fundamental conventions.
Bangladesh has ratified a total of 10 core ILO conventions.
In a recent development, the country has ratified three ILO conventions, including two fundamental ones: Convention 155 on Occupational Safety and Health (OSH), which outlines comprehensive measures to ensure safe and healthy working conditions, and Convention 187, a promotional framework for OSH that aims to foster a preventive safety culture.
The third convention ratified is Convention 190, which addresses violence and harassment in the workplace and establishes the right to a world of work free from such issues.
Speaking at a programme on 'Celebrating progress, shaping the future: Bangladesh's ratification of three ILO conventions to advancing decent work' in the city on Thursday, Adviser to the Ministries of Labour and Employment Dr. M. Sakhawat Hussain said Bangladesh has become the first country in South Asia to ratify Convention 190.
He urged the ILO to consider withdrawing the complaint against Bangladesh, given the country's utmost efforts and progress in implementing the conventions.
Lutfey Siddiqi, special envoy on international affairs to the chief adviser; Asad Alam Siam, foreign secretary; Md Sanwar Jahan Bhuiyan, labour secretary; AHM Shafiquzzaman, former labour secretary; and ILO Bangladesh country director Max Tunon, among others, also spoke at the event.
Following the complaint and request from the ILO, the government in May 2021 developed and submitted a time-bound National Action Plan on labour with concrete outcomes to address the issues outlined in the complaint.
It set four priority areas that included labour law reforms, trade union registration, labour inspection and enforcement, and addressing acts of anti-union discrimination/unfair labour practices and violence against workers.
Speaking at the event, Lutfey Siddiqi suggested keeping an eye on the complaint lodged against Bangladesh.
Ambassador and Head of the European Union (EU) Delegation to Bangladesh, Michael Miller, said the ratification of these conventions and labour law reforms would enhance Bangladesh's reputation as a responsible and ethical trading partner.
These measures taken by the interim government will also help extend Bangladesh's access to the EU -- the biggest export destination for Bangladeshi-made goods, including RMG, under the Everything But Arms (EBA) initiative, he said.
However, Miller stressed the need for further implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP) on labour, noting that some areas have yet to progress, including amendments to the EPZ labour act, the elimination of child labour, and strengthening social dialogue.
ILO Country Director Max Tunon remarked that these achievements are the result of years of collaborative efforts led by the government, working closely with social partners and other stakeholders.
"These ratifications send a strong signal around the world," he said, adding that they demonstrate Bangladesh's commitment to advancing decent work and its readiness for modern regulations, robust labour institutions, and productive workplaces where workers feel protected and respected.
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