Govt prepares draft of rules to implement labour law

The government has prepared the draft of rules to implement labour laws and has given one month's time to the stakeholders including owners and workers for their opinions, sources said.
The first meeting of the committee headed by Labour Secretary with representatives from the government, employers' federation, apparel apex bodies-BGMEA and BKMEA-and labour organisations was held on January 23 when the draft was shared with them, they added.
Formulation of the necessary rules came aiming to implement the country's labour laws, they said adding there is also international pressure to amend the laws and properly put them into practice to improve and ensure workplace safety and labour standards, especially in the garment sector following the deadly Tazreen fire and Rana Plaza building collapse.
The Bangladesh Labour Act of 2006 still lacks the required rules even though the Act was passed a couple of years back, they said adding the labour laws were amended on three occasions with the latest change taking place in 2013.
After enacting the Labour Act 2006, the government took a move to formulate the rules and a draft was also drawn up after two years which is yet to see the light, according to labour ministry officials.
They said they have prepared the rules in line with the previous one.
"During the meeting, both workers' and owners' representatives have sought time to give their opinions after holding discussions with their members," Labour Secretary Mikail Shipar told the FE.
We have given them one month's time and will take their opinion in the next meeting to be held on February 23, he said without going into further details of the draft.
"If needed, we might seek public opinion online," he added.
Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) vice president Md Hatem said there are some issues which need to be resolved.
"We will first discuss with our members and then submit our opinions," Mr Hatem also member of the committee, said. "In the draft there is the provision that an entrepreneur needs to establish a well-equipped hospital before setting up a garment factory which is not realistic."
Similarly, Jatiya Sramik League president Shukkur Mahmud said they will also raise the issues that go against the interest of the workers.
Earlier, Bangladesh Employers Federation (BEF) in a meeting requested the labour ministry to formulate business-friendly rules paving the way of creating employment.