Worker representatives at the National Tripartite Consultative Council rejected a proposed amendment to the Bangladesh Labour Act seeking to remove the 5 per cent benefit allotted for employees in the oil, gas and mining sectors.
During a council meeting at the labour and employment ministry on Monday, officials suggested altering the law so that these workers are no longer entitled to the benefit under the Workers’ Profit Participation Fund (WPPF).
Worker delegates strongly criticised the proposal as contrary to their legal rights and expressed concern over the timing and intent.
The WPPF was established under the Labour Act 2006 as a mandatory contribution by employers or companies to a fund for workers’ welfare and profit sharing.
As such, eligible companies are required to contribute a portion of their annual net profit to the WPPF.
Worker leaders said the sudden push to amend the labour law ahead of the national election is alarming.
They warned the move could undermine the legal entitlement of workers and provide undue advantage to foreign-invested energy companies.
They also objected to concurrent proposed changes to production sharing contract arrangements, calling them inconsistent with national interests.
Labour representatives demanded an immediate halt to any plan to exempt energy companies from the 5 per cent WPPF contribution requirement.
They said any revision of the WPPF framework must follow a lawful, transparent, participatory process led by an elected government with the involvement of registered trade unions and all stakeholders.
The workers also called for the draft of any proposed production sharing contract amendments to be published for public scrutiny.
