Chief Labor Reform Commission Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmad said that the Labor Reform Commission is ready to cooperate with the utmost sincerity in restoring the image of Bangladesh in the global arena in the past years due to labor issues. He said these things at a press conference organized to highlight the future work plan of the commission in the meeting room of Shram Bhavan in the capital's Vijayanagar on Thursday (November 28).
Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed said, many workers are victims of dismissal, threats and violence while forming a trade union. Our workforce is diverse. From children to old, from illiterates to those with the highest degree, from the plains to the hills, the state must take responsibility for the protection of all workers. Vastra has to cooperate with us by giving necessary advice.
In a written statement at the press conference, the head of the commission also said that the labor reform commission has said that it will strive to make recommendations to ensure the protection of the rights of all workers and a dignified life in Bangladesh. Democratic labor laws for workers, decent and dignified employment, job security, national minimum and fair dignified wages, safe working environment, universal social security, right to organize, bargain and access to justice, right to freely form trade unions, responsible trade unions and business organizations The commission will formulate necessary recommendations to ensure fair partnership including domestic and international policy reviews and recommendations for the sake of practice, industrial development. Recommendations will only contribute to labor and industrial interests and industrial relations practices, sustainable and inclusive development, establishment of non-discrimination and just society and the journey of building a dignified Bangladesh.
The Labor Reforms Commission will work on making recommendations on a priority basis including – Labor Law Reforms, Structural Reforms of Labor Institutions, Development of Industrial Relations and Tripartite Mechanism, Development of Trade Unions, Organization and Bargaining Environment, Labor Access to Justice and Disputes settlement, employment and job security, standards of wages and compensation, universal social security and welfare programs, development of occupational health and safety systems, migrant workers Protection, elimination of child labour, protection of working adolescents, protection of the rights of backward workers such as women, agricultural, rural workers, domestic, farm-based, seasonal, tribal and minority groups, disabled and backward labor groups and others.
Recommendations will be based on national and international laws, declarations and policies, international instruments related to human rights, environment, migration and business, Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 2030), issues to be followed in LDC graduation and expectations and policies of development partners and recipient countries.
Earlier on November 18, the interim government formed a 10-member labor reform commission headed by Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed, executive director of BILS, to ensure the rights and dignified life of all (institutional and non-institutional) workers in Bangladesh.
The press conference was also attended by the member of the Labor Reform Commission and the former secretary of the Ministry of Forests and Climate Change (Labor and Employment and Environment). Mahfuzul Haque, Professor of Rajshahi University (Institute of Bangladesh Studies). Zakir Hossain, President of Chittagong Divisional Committee of Bangladesh Trade Union Center Tapan Dutta and other members of the commission.
