Bangladesh is moving to convert the Bangladesh Labour Amendment Ordinance 2025 into law as the government works with the International Labour Organization to strengthen workplace safety, labour standards and sustainable employment.
Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury said cooperation from the International Labour Organization (ILO) remained important for ensuring safe workplaces, occupational safety and health, and compliance with international labour standards.
He made the remarks during a courtesy meeting with ILO Bangladesh Country Director Max Tunon at the conference room of the Ministry of Labour and Employment at Bangladesh Secretariat in Dhaka.
The minister said the government had sent a draft Bangladesh Labour Amendment Act 2026 for presentation at a Cabinet meeting in line with the Bangladesh Labour Amendment Ordinance 2025.
Once approved, the draft law will be placed before the National Parliament soon, he said.
The minister also said the prime minister was personally prioritising the issue and had instructed the relevant authorities to take necessary steps to advance the legislation.
ILO Bangladesh Country Director Max Tunon said the organisation had reviewed the government’s 180-day action plan and was interested in working jointly with the government to implement it.
He emphasised the importance of converting the Bangladesh Labour Amendment Ordinance 2025 into law and setting a revised timeline for implementing Bangladesh’s roadmap submitted to the ILO.
Tunon also stressed the need to consult relevant stakeholders when implementing provisions of the law where major changes have been introduced.
Ministry of Labour and Employment Secretary Md Abdur Rahman Tarafder said the ministry had a clear roadmap for implementing the Bangladesh Labour Amendment Act.
He said no major changes had been introduced to the current draft, but any significant revisions in the future would be carried out through consultations with all relevant stakeholders.
Senior officials from the Ministry of Labour and Employment and the ILO Bangladesh office attended the meeting.
