Labour leaders press for law amendment before polls

Labour leaders and rights activists have urged the government to amend the labour law and implement the recommendations of the 2024 Labour Reform Commission (LRC) on a priority basis before announcing the national election schedule.

They made the call on Friday at a discussion titled "One year of the interim government: workers' expectations and achievements" and organised by Bangladesh Garment Sramik Sanghati at the Manik Mia Auditorium of the National Press Club in the capital.

Presiding over the event, Taslima Akhter, a member of the LRC, presented a written statement, outlining the commission's 11-point demand.

The demands include ensuring justice for slain workers and proper compensation for workplace tragedy victims, guaranteeing trade union rights and collective bargaining, preventing unfair termination and blacklisting, eliminating workplace harassment, ensuring six months of paid maternity leave, and increasing the number of labour courts and inspectors.

The discussion was moderated by Mizanur Rahim Chowdhury, central general secretary of the LRC.

The speakers criticised the government for failing to reflect workers' aspirations in the July declaration and ignoring the LRC recommendations on labour and gender rights.

They argued that reforms are vital to meet international labour standards, raise wages, protect freedom of association, and prevent unjust termination and harassment.

Among the labour leaders who spoke at the event were Mohammad Khorshed Alam, central youth affairs secretary of the Nationalist Workers' Party; Mazharul Islam Fakir, chief coordinator of the Workers' Wing of NCP; Montu Ghosh, president of the Garment Workers Trade Union Centre; Nazma Akter, president of the Combined Garment Workers Federation; Tofazzal Hossain, coordinator of the Workers' Rights Movement; Sultana, president of the Green Bangla Garment Workers Federation; Raju Ahmed; and Shamim Imam.

Special guests included LRC chief Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed, New York University faculty member Dina Siddiqi, Jahangirnagar University teacher Hasan Ashraf, theatre activist Ritu Sattar, filmmaker Akram Khan, and Nari Sanghati General Secretary Aparajita Deb.

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