A dialogue on the next steps for implementing three International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions was held in Dhaka on Tuesday, aiming to strengthen labour rights protection in Bangladesh.
The event took place at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre, organized by the Ganashaksharta Abhijan with support from Oxfam in Bangladesh.
Brigadier General (Retd) Dr M Sakhawat Hossain, adviser to the Ministry of Labour and Employment, addressed the gathering as the chief guest.
He said: “We will present this issue at the ILO’s General Assembly on November 20. Our initiatives continue to ensure that Bangladesh can take a stronger stance in protecting workers’ rights while advancing trade and business.”
Dr Hossain added: “We have received a long-awaited labour law by many. But enacting it is not enough; proper implementation remains the key challenge. Many enterprises defaulted on loans, which affected workers. The government has taken various measures to ensure workers receive their due wages.”
Highlighting the need for balanced labour relations, he said: “Employers, workers, and civil society all have responsibilities. NGOs can provide training to workers and their leaders, as leadership without proper training may lead to instability.”
Dr Hossain further noted that the three ILO conventions reflect the government’s firm commitment to worker protection.
“Bangladesh is now the only country in South Asia to have ratified all 10 fundamental ILO conventions,” he said.
The three ILO conventions under discussion are: 155, 187, and 190.
During an open discussion, participants thanked the interim government for ratifying the conventions and urged the rapid strengthening of legal frameworks to ensure the safety and dignity of workers.
Other speakers included AHM Safiquzzaman, former secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Chairperson of CAB; Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed, head of the Labour Reform Commission and Executive Director of BILS; Shirin Parveen Haque, head of the Women’s Reform Commission; Niran Ramjuthan, ILO program manager; Ashish Damle, country director of Oxfam in Bangladesh; Mahmuda Sultana, program director; and Taslima Akhter, member of the Labour Reform Commission.
The session was chaired by Rasheda K Chowdhury, executive director of Ganashaksharta Abhijan.
More than 50 representatives from domestic and international organizations, researchers, development workers, worker groups, and media attended the event.
