RMG Working Group Core Committee urges political parties to include workers’ rights in election manifestos

The RMG Working Group Core Committee has called on all political parties and policymakers to prioritise workers’ rights, welfare, and social protection in their upcoming election manifestos, emphasising that the garment sector’s four million workers deserve stronger legal, social, and economic safeguards.

Speaking at a press conference at the National Press Club on Sunday, the committee said that although Bangladesh’s labour laws, constitution, and ILO conventions recognise workers’ rights, the reality remains far from satisfactory.

 “The implementation of the Labour Reform Commission’s recommendations has also seen little progress,” the statement noted.

Citing the RMG sector’s vital contribution—accounting for 10.35 per cent of GDP and 82 per cent of total export earnings—the committee stressed that sustainable industrial relations and labour protection are essential for maintaining growth and social justice.

The committee placed a 12-point set of proposals for inclusion in political parties’ election manifestos, including:

1. Ensuring trade union rights and legal protection under ILO conventions for all workers, including those in EPZs and SEZs.

2. Sustainable industry and employment protection, expanding job opportunities while safeguarding existing workers.

3. Declaring a national minimum wage aligned with living costs.

4. Ensuring occupational safety and health, with stronger fire, electrical, and building safety standards.

5. Comprehensive social protection, including pensions, provident funds, employment injury insurance, and rationing for workers at subsidised prices.

6. Affordable housing and welfare schemes for all garment workers.

7. Family-friendly workplace policies, including six months of paid maternity leave and the launch of paternity leave.

8. Safe and harassment-free workplaces, in line with ILO Convention 190.

9. Faster and fairer labour justice, through more labour courts and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.

10. Transparent and accountable labour inspection systems.

11. Ensuring employment protection, advancing technology and skill development, and implementing Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) in the context of automation, climate change, and just transition.

12. Taking steps to implement the recommendations of the Labour Reform Commission.

Abdul Kader Howlader, member, RMG Working Group Core Committee, chaired the press conference.

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