State minister for labour, Md Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, affirmed that Bangladesh is on track to meet the recommendations of the international community regarding labour conditions through the upcoming passage of the Labour Amendment Bill in the Jatiya Sangsad’s next session.

Addressing the reporters recently, on the eve of National Occupational Health and Safety Day, he assured that the bill aligns with the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) guidelines, addressing concerns raised by the United States and the European Union.

Chowdhury emphasised that the proposed amendments cater to both ILO and EU requirements, ensuring compliance with international labour standards even as he expressed optimism about the bill’s swift passage during the next parliamentary session, beginning on May 2.

The EU had previously provided a set of ‘suggested actions on labour rights’ to Bangladesh in 2019, urging the formulation of a time-bound roadmap.

In response, Bangladesh, in collaboration with the ILO, developed a comprehensive action plan. Similarly, the United States presented an 11-point labour action plan to Bangladesh to secure duty-free access for Bangladeshi products in the US market.

Highlighting collaboration with the ILO and the EU, Chowdhury assured regular progress reporting to these bodies. He acknowledged the previous passage of the Bangladesh Labour (Amendment) bill in November 2023, albeit with suggestions for further consideration from the president.

During the press conference, Chowdhury also announced the nomination of 29 factories for the ‘Green Factory Award-2023,’ recognising their commitment to workplace safety and compliance.

Additionally, efforts are underway to set up an employment department aimed at organising a database of workers and preventing unskilled labour migration. Inspector General Abdur Rahim Khan emphasised the department’s focus on enforcing labour laws and highlighted the vast number of unregistered factories, signalling the need for heightened regulatory oversight.