DHAKA: In a strong call for reform, Farida Akhter, Adviser to the Fisheries and Livestock Ministry, declared that violations of workers’ rights are equivalent to human rights abuses. Speaking at a national dialogue, she criticized the lack of focus on workers’ rights by many human rights organizations.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Farida was the chief guest at an event organized by the Bangladesh Agricultural Farm Workers’ Federation, where she emphasized the urgent need for global-standard labor laws and legal recognition of agricultural and informal economy workers. The event, held at the CIRDAP auditorium, also saw representatives from various labor unions present a 13-point demand to the Labor Reform Commission’s chief.
Azizul Haque, acting president of the Bangladesh Agricultural Farm Workers Federation, presided over the dialogue. Other notable attendees included Labor Reforms Commission Chief Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed and labor leaders from various organizations. The discussions underscored the role of agricultural workers in the economy and highlighted their exposure to hazardous conditions, such as mixing pesticides without proper protection.
Farida pointed out that about 60 percent of cancer patients in the region are directly involved in agriculture, attributing this to unsafe practices in pesticide handling. She criticized existing agricultural laws for their lack of direct references to farmers and called for changes to protect workers’ rights instead of controlling them.
The meeting also brought attention to the exploitation faced by agricultural workers, contrasting it with the more visible issues faced by garment workers. Participants stressed the importance of integrating workers into social security systems through digital databases, reflecting the digital age’s impact on labor rights.
The dialogue concluded with a firm commitment from Farida to prioritize workers’ rights in constitutional reforms, aiming to eliminate discrimination and enhance social security for all workers.