Staff Correspondent

Trade union leaders have urged authorities to pay workers' salaries and Eid bonuses by the 20th of Ramadan to avoid any sort of labour dissatisfaction ahead of Eid-Ul-Fitr.

They also called for bringing all workers, including those in and outside export processing zones (EPZs), under a universal law to ensure equal rights.

Besides, the leaders demanded the withdrawal of all politically motivated cases filed against workers during the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government.

The speakers came up with the call at a press conference jointly organized by International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-Bangladesh Council), IndustriALL-Bangladesh Council and PSI-NCC for Bangladesh at National Press Club in the capital on Sunday.

Speaking at the event, Secretary General of ITUC-BC Shakil Akhter Chowdhury demanded that all dues, including wages and bonuses, be paid by the 20th of Ramadan and that no worker be dismissed or retrenched before Eid.

“If our demands are ignored, workers may become angry. In that case, the government and factory owners will have to bear the responsibility,” he warned.

Shakil also made several recommendations on labour law reform, trade union registration, labour inspection, enforcement of laws, and addressing trade union repression, unfair labour practices, and violence against workers.

“The government must submit progress reports on these four areas to the ILO every six months. However, its report claims that amendments to the Bangladesh Labour Law will be finalised by March 2025, which is unrealistic. Trade unions have long argued that most of their recommendations remain unaddressed,” he added.

Shakil claimed that the report highlights the 18-point tripartite agreement signed in September 2024 as a major achievement, but in reality, its implementation is not up to the mark in various industrial areas.

He informed that the ILO Governing Body will discuss the latest progress report on the implementation of the roadmap submitted by the Government of Bangladesh in Geneva on Monday (17 March). The roadmap was formulated by the government following complaints about violations of Conventions 81, 87 and 98 at the ILO in 2019. However, despite several steps taken by the present government, the real improvement of the workers' rights situation in the country has not been visible so far.

General Secretary of IndustriALL-Bangladesh Council Shahidullah Badal urged owners not to shut factories suddenly. “From time to time, we notice that owners shut their factories without paying wages before Eid or issuing any notice. It is a cause of dissatisfaction among workers. We want to avoid such practices by owners,” he added.

PSI-NCC for Bangladesh President Monjurul Islam said that although 18 demands were agreed upon by owners, the Labour ministry and workers in September last year, only the demand for 120 days of maternity leave has been implemented.

“We want all demands to be implemented to ensure labour rights in the country,” he added.