Labour sector experts at a dialogue on Sunday said that Bangladesh鈥檚 labour sector was in a bad shape and it needed reforms.
They made the observation at a Centre for Policy Dialogue discussion titled 鈥楻eforms in workers鈥� livelihood, workplace safety and rights related issues: an agenda for the interim government at the CPD office in the capital Dhaka.
Given that less than 15 per cent of the country鈥檚 labour force is in the formal industries and is still experiencing rights violation, Bangladesh鈥檚 labour sector is in severe condition and needs reforms, said labour sector reform commission chief Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed.
鈥楳ore than six crore workers in the informal sector don鈥檛 enjoy labour rights. Many of those who are in the formal sector are deprived of job security, timely wage, occupational safety, maternity leave, festival allowance and other rights-based facilities,鈥� Sultan Uddin said, seeking support from key stakeholders to prepare comprehensive reform proposals to submit to the interim government.
The CPD in collaboration with several development and civil society organisations, including Christian Aid, organised the dialogue to press the need for legislative and practical changes in the labour sector.
A detailed reform agenda to assist the reform commission was presented by CPD senior research associate Tamim Ahmed.
The CPD鈥檚 key recommendations included wage coverage for all industries, a national minimum wage and penalties for delayed payments.
Mentioning that occupational safety remained critical, the CPD proposed mandatory safety officers, surprise inspections and specialised medical facilities for high-risk industries.
The local think tank also proposed unified labour laws and stronger protection for union activists, recommending union rights at every industry, including in the export processing zones.
Regarding social protection for the workers, the CPD suggested ratifying international conventions, expanding schemes and introducing maternity and disability insurance.
Prevention of child labour, removing barriers for women workers, including lack of child daycare, fair and equal pay and other anti-discrimination measures were suggested to ensure gender equality in the workplace.
While moderating the dialogue, CPD research director Khondaker Golam Moazzem said that there was no tangible progress yet in expanding the minimum wage board coverage, which had been stuck in only 42 industries.
Kamran T Rahman, president of the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry and also a member of the labour sector reform commission, urged for collaboration between the industries and the government to foster a business environment that not only grows economically but also respects and upholds labour rights.
Member of the reform commission and labour leader Taslima Akter emphasised turning promises for the labour sector into actions.
Bangladesh Employers鈥� Federation secretary general and chief executive officer Farooq Ahmed and Christian Aid Bangladesh country director Nuzhat Jabin also spoke at the discussion.