Geneva: The interim government of Bangladesh, led by Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus, has reiterated its commitment to implementing sustainable labor reforms through national consensus and active participation from all stakeholders. Labor and Employment Adviser Dr. M. Sakhawat Hossain presented this stance during the 353rd Governing Body Session of the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Geneva.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Dr. Hossain emphasized the government’s dedication to inclusive labor reforms, addressing ongoing allegations against Bangladesh at the ILO. He presented a progress report on labor sector advancements, marking the second discussion under the current administration since the previous report in November.
Dr. Hossain highlighted that the interim government has dismissed the majority of politically motivated cases against workers and trade union leaders, ensuring democratic representation in tripartite committees. He noted that a consensus was reached on several key amendments to the Labour Law, such as extending trade union rights to management, supervisory, and administrative positions. However, discussions continue on issues like the minimum percentage of workers required for union registration.
The adviser assured that unresolved matters would be addressed through ongoing tripartite negotiations and mentioned plans to issue an ordinance to finalize the amendments. Additionally, the government is consulting with stakeholders about aligning the EPZ Labor Law with the revised Bangladesh Labor Law, following a comparative analysis.
Dr. Hossain reported that 50 percent of factory and establishment inspections are conducted unannounced under the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), and vacant labor inspector positions would be swiftly filled. During the session, representatives from developing countries in Asia and Africa praised Bangladesh’s labor reforms and advocated for the closure of the complaint process against the country.
In an unprecedented move, the Arab Group of member states unanimously supported Bangladesh, marking a unique precedent in ILO proceedings. Furthermore, 18 countries independently lauded Bangladesh’s labor reforms, reflecting the highest level of international support received to date.
Development partner countries also commended the government’s initiatives and pledged continued cooperation in implementing these reforms. Notably, no member of the ILO Governing Body called for an investigation against Bangladesh during this session.
Based on Bangladesh’s report and discussions, a decision was made to postpone the next hearing on the ongoing complaint from November 2025 to March 2026, demonstrating a constructive step towards cooperation. Dr. Hossain expressed gratitude for the international community’s support and highlighted the goodwill visit of UN Secretary-General Ant³nio Guterres as an endorsement of Bangladesh’s commitment to labor rights.
He extended an invitation to the ILO’s tripartite team and other delegations to visit Bangladesh to witness the ongoing labor sector reforms firsthand. In his closing remarks, Dr. Hossain urged the international community to support the swift resolution of the ongoing case against Bangladesh.