Bangladesh becomes first Asian country to ratify all 10 ILO fundamental instruments

The International Labour Organization (ILO) on Thursday commended the Government of Bangladesh for the landmark ratification of three key ILO Conventions, including two fundamental ILO Conventions on occupational safety and health, reflecting the country’s strong commitment to promoting safer workplaces and ensuring dignity and respect for all workers.

At the ILO headquarters in Geneva, Brigadier General (R) Dr. M. Sakhawat Hussain, advisor to the Ministry of Labour and Employment (MoLE) and the Ministry of Shipping, met with Mr. Gilbert F. Houngbo, the ILO Director-General, and deposited the instruments of ratification for the Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155), the Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 2006 (No. 187), and the Violence and Harassment Convention, 2019 (No. 190).

With these ratifications, Bangladesh becomes the second country in the Asia-Pacific region to ratify all ILO fundamental Conventions, and the first country in South Asia to ratify Convention No. 190, according to a statement issued by the ILO.

These ratifications follow the recent adoption of the Bangladesh Labour (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, on 17 November 2025, which brings national legislation into closer alignment with international standards.

The Ordinance reinforces critical protections by prohibiting discrimination, violence, and harassment at work, while affirming workers’ rights to remove themselves from situations of imminent risk without retaliation.

“The ILO commends the Government of Bangladesh for advancing the decent work agenda with the ratification of these critical conventions. The application of these ratifications will lead to safe and healthy workplaces for millions of workers, and tackling violence and harassment will increase women's participation in the labour force. These commitments will strengthen Bangladesh’s global competitiveness as a responsible trading partner and investment destination,” said Max Tuñón, the Country Director of the ILO Office in Bangladesh.

The ratifications send a strong signal of Bangladesh’s commitment to building a world of work based on dignity and respect.

In addition, International Labour Standards (ILS), as minimum standards, increasingly form part of the requirements for trade agreements and demonstrating compliance with human rights due diligence laws.

About the Ratified Conventions
ILO Conventions Nos. 155 and 187 establish a comprehensive framework for fostering a preventive occupational safety and health culture, promoting a systems-based approach to OSH management that engages government, employers, and workers.

ILO Convention No. 190, the first international treaty recognizing the right to a world of work free from violence and harassment—including gender-based violence—extends protection to all workers, regardless of their contractual status, and applies to both the formal and informal sectors.

Munni_fe@yahoo.com