By
Fiber2Fashion
Published
April 29, 2024
Minister of State for Labor Md. Nazrul Islam Chowdhury stated that Bangladesh is on track to meet the international community's recommendations on working conditions by passing the Labor Amendment Bill in the upcoming Jatiya Sangsad session. .
Addressing journalists recently, on the eve of National Occupational Safety and Health Day, he assured that the bill is aligned with the guidelines of the International Labor Organization (ILO), addressing concerns raised by the United States and the European Union.
Chowdhury emphasized that the proposed amendments satisfy the requirements of both the ILO and the EU, ensuring compliance with international labor standards, even as he expressed optimism about the quick passage of the bill during the next parliamentary session, which will begin on 2 May.
The EU had previously provided a set of “suggested actions on labor rights” to Bangladesh in 2019, urging the formulation of a time-bound roadmap.
In response, Bangladesh, in collaboration with the ILO, developed a comprehensive action plan. Similarly, the United States presented Bangladesh with an 11-point labor action plan to ensure duty-free access of Bangladeshi products to the US market.
Highlighting the collaboration with the ILO and the EU, Chowdhury assured that these organizations will be regularly informed of progress. He acknowledged the earlier passage of the Bangladesh Labor (Amendment) Bill in November 2023, albeit with suggestions for further consideration by the President.
During the press conference, Chowdhury also announced the nomination of 29 factories for the 'Green Factory Award-2023', recognizing their commitment to workplace safety and compliance.
In addition, efforts are being made to create an employment department aimed at organizing a database of workers and preventing the migration of unskilled labor. Inspector General Abdur Rahim Khan emphasized the department's focus on enforcing labor laws and highlighted the large number of unregistered factories, signaling the need for greater regulatory oversight.
