The Bangladesh Employers’ Federation (BEF), in collaboration with major industry associations, has expressed strong opposition to proposed amendments to the Bangladesh Labour Act (BLA), calling instead for reforms to be based on industrial realities rather than external pressures.
One of the key concerns raised by the BEF is the proposal to limit the establishment of enterprise-level unions to only 20 members, irrespective of the size of the enterprise.
In a statement on Thursday, the BEF argued that “such a blanket provision disregards industrial realities, exposes enterprises to manipulation by external interest groups, and risks undermining workplace stability”.
The statement further said that this rule “could potentially foster fragmentation and disorder, rather than strengthen genuine trade unionism”.
The statement also emphasised that, despite being agreed upon by tripartite stakeholders, the proposed reforms fail to address the essential needs of workers.
“These reforms do not focus on workers’ real concerns, including security, welfare, social justice, and sustainable livelihoods,” the BEF said.
The federation stressed that the real challenge lies not in creating new laws but in ensuring the effective implementation of existing ones.
“The problem lies in under-resourced regulatory bodies and weak labour inspection systems. Without proper investment in strengthening these institutions, any further amendments will add uncertainty and disrupt the labour market,” it added.
The BEF has called on the International Labour Organization (ILO) and Bangladesh’s development partners to ensure that any future reforms are discussed transparently, with all relevant parties involved.
“We urge the ILO and development partners to adhere to the principle of tripartism and ensure genuine discussions between government, employers, and workers,” the BEF said.
The Federation also urged the government to lead the reform process in a balanced and pragmatic manner.
“Reforms must be national in scope and institutionally enforceable, not driven by external demands,” it said, adding that unrealistic amendments could harm the long-term sustainability of businesses and the livelihoods of millions of workers.
The government has been planning to bring about amendments to the Bangladesh Labour Act by October as the country has committed to improving it to international standards, according to Labour and Employment Adviser Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hussain.
Afterwards, it will be possible to list changes to the International Labour Organization (ILO) as proof of the progress made in labour rights, he said.
Bangladesh had made the commitment earlier as the international community, including the ILO, European Union, and US, had been pressing for it over the past couple of years.
