The RMG Working Group Core Committee (WGCC) has called on all political parties to prioritise workers' rights, welfare, and social protection in their upcoming election manifestos, emphasising that the garment sector's four million workers deserve stronger legal, social, and economic safeguards.
Speaking at a press conference at the National Press Club in the capital on Sunday, the committee said although Bangladesh's labour laws and constitution, and ILO conventions recognise workers' rights, the reality remains far from satisfactory. The implementation of the Labour Reform Commission's recommendations has also seen little progress.
Citing the RMG sector's vital contribution - accounting for 10.35 per cent of the GDP and 82 per cent of the total export earnings - the WGCC stressed that sustainable industrial relations and labour protection are essential for maintaining growth and social justice.
The group placed a 12-point set of proposals for inclusion in the political parties' election manifestos, calling for stronger labour rights, better social protection, and safer workplaces for the garment workers.
The proposals included ensuring trade union rights and legal protection under the ILO conventions for all workers, including those employed in the export processing zones (EPZs) and special economic zones (SEZs).
It also called for sustainable industrial growth and employment protection that expand job opportunities while safeguarding existing workers.
The group demanded a national minimum wage aligned with living costs, and urged the government to strengthen occupational safety and health measures through improved fire, electrical, and building safety standards.
Its proposals further included comprehensive social protection measures, such as pension, provident fund, employment injury insurance, and rationing facility for workers at subsidised prices.
The WGCC also sought affordable housing and welfare schemes for all garment workers, along with family-friendly workplace policies - providing six months of paid maternity leave and introducing paternity leave.
The proposals highlighted the need for safe and harassment-free workplaces in line with the ILO Convention 190, and called for faster and fairer labour justice through more labour courts and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.
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