Bangladesh: workers push labour reforms

The 2026 ITUC Global Rights Index marks real progress, but also records continued suppression of workers' rights on the ground. In the context of global labour discussions, Bangladesh labour rights remain a key focus for advocates and observers.

New labour laws mark real progress for workers

The gains are real. Bangladesh ratified key ILO conventions: C155 on Occupational Safety and Health. C187 on its promotional framework and C190 on Violence and Harassment. These steps are significant improvements concerning labour rights in Bangladesh.

Reforms lowered the barrier to union formation. Labour regulations now cover the shipbreaking industry. Workers receive 120 days of maternity leave. Social security has been widened.

New laws empower workers to refuse hazardous tasks. An Employment Injury Scheme Fund has been established. Violence and harassment, gender-based violence and sexual harassment now have formal legal definitions. This is a serious move to confront workplace abuse. For sectors like textile and garment, millions of women have long faced harassment on the factory floor. These developments are critically positive for them in terms of Bangladesh labour rights progress.

These reforms answer years of worker pressure. Yet, Bangladesh still sits in rank five with no guarantee of rights. Freedom of association remains restricted through convoluted regulations and weak employer compliance, highlighting ongoing challenges for labour rights in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh Accord anchors safety as gaps persist

Enforcement gaps persist. IndustriALL recently reported shipbreaking deaths that expose these failures. During recent IndustriALL webinars, union representatives noted that safety committees too often exist only on paper. Their campaigns now centre on winning workers the right to elect their own members to these committees. Alongside real inspections and genuine social dialogue on the new laws, advocates for Bangladesh labour rights are closely monitoring these developments.

The Bangladesh Accord emerged from the 2013 Rana Plaza disaster. It now acts as a strong lever for workers. The legally binding agreement ties 240-plus brands to UNI and IndustriALL and gives workers a mechanism to raise safety and health issues. It is now working on expanding the scope to cover all workplace complaints, rooted in the ILO Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. With the current Accord valid until the end of 2026, a strong renewal will carry these gains forward and further secure labour rights in Bangladesh.

IndustriALL general secretary, Atle Høie, says:

"These reforms are hard-won and worth celebrating, but laws only protect workers when they are enforced. IndustriALL will continue to support its affiliates in Bangladesh to ensure progress is not undone by weak implementation or new barriers to union organizing."