Report title:
The Transformation Framework of the World of Work: Workers’ Rights, Harmonized Industrial Relations and Inclusive Development
Project objective:
A core constitutional principle of Bangladesh is the elimination of all forms of exploitation of working people and the creation of a just society based on the rule of law, equality, and human rights. The aspirations of Bangladesh’s independence movement and the July 2024 mass uprising driven by students, workers, and the general public reflect a collective demand for a non-discriminatory and dignified society. In alignment with this vision, the interim government established the Labor Reform Commission on November 18, 2024. This is the first such initiative in the country’s 54-year history, formed to recommend essential reforms for ensuring workers’ rights and welfare.
With the aim of ensuring the rights and a dignified life for all workers in Bangladesh (both formal and informal), recommendations have been formulated to protect and promote decent work for all, job security, fair wages, safe working conditions, universal social protection, the right to organize and bargain collectively, and access to justice. These efforts will contribute to creating an environment conducive to sound industrial relations, fostering sustainable and inclusive development, establishing an equitable and just society, and building a dignified Bangladesh.
Project Timeline:
November, 2024 – Present
Team Members:
To attain the objectives, an 18-member Labour Reform Commission (LRC) was formed. The core LRC team members are:
Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed (chief), Executive Director of Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS) and Chairperson of Labour Reform Commission (LRC)
Razekuzzaman Ratan, President, NCCWE and Member, Labour Reform Commission (LRC)
Anwar Hossain, President of Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal
Ariful Islam, Media Activist
Dr. Ananya Raihan, CEO of iSocial
Farooq Ahmed Secretary General and CEO of Bangladesh Employers’ Federation (BEF)
ANM Saif Uddin, Member of Coordination Committee of BGMEA
Fazle Shamim Ehsan, Managing Director of Fatullah Appearls Limited
Syed Nasim Manzur, Managing Director of Apex Footware Limited
Barrister Nihad Kabir, Senior Partner at Syed Ishtiaq Ahmed & Associates
Mostafa Al Hossain Akil, Student Member of Labour Reform Commission
Taslima Akhter, Photographer and Labour Movement Organizer
Md. Shakil Akhter Chowdhury, General Secretary of Bangladesh Labour Federation (BLF)
Kamran T Rahman, Former President of Bangladesh Employers’ Federation (BEF)
Advocate AKM Nasim, Former President of Bangladesh Labour Court Bar Association and Country Program Director of Solidarity Centre – Bangladesh
Tapan Dutta, President of the Chattogram divisional committee of the Bangladesh Trade Union Centre
Dr Jakir Hossain, Professor at the Institute of Bangladesh Studies at Rajshahi University
Dr Mahfuzul Haque, Former Secretary at the Ministry of Labour and Employment and the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change
Dr. Ananya Raihan, played a pivotal role as a core member of the Commission, by leading two technical committees and contributing significantly with his insights in the final report.
The wider iSocial team also undertakes the responsibility for managing the website and social media of LRC to disseminate the research findings among the mass population.
Project outcome:
To attain the aforementioned objectives, the Bangladesh Labour Reform Commission (LRC) comprising 18 members published and handed over the final report to Professor. Dr. Muhammad Yunus in April 2025. The Commission intends to carry on the research and undertake steps for their implementation.
Locations the project served: Countrywide
Key Research Findings:
In light of the above objectives, the Commission has reviewed the following issues and formulated the recommendations below accordingly:
1.1 Legal protection and recognition of all workers
1.2 Ensuring decent national and sectoral wages
1.3 Ensuring a safe working environment
1.4 Formation of a labor force registration system and database including workers
1.5 Right to organize and collective bargaining
1.6 Ensuring accountability, transparency and the right to information
1.7 Formation of a Permanent Labor Commission
1.8 Initiatives for employment and skill development
1.9 Ensuring social security
1.10 Ensuring equal rights and eliminating violence and discrimination
1.11 Prevention of all forms of harassment and violence, including sexual harassment
1.12 Universal maternity protection
1.13 Stopping and protecting child and adolescent and forced labor
1.14 Practicing well-coordinated industrial relations and social dialogue
1.15 Fair labor courts, fair trial and alternative dispute resolution systems
1.16 Introduce Bangla language in a dignified and harassment-free work environment and in courts
1.17 Ensuring the participation of both male and female workers in decision-making and representation
1.18 Establishing emergency funds and transparency of existing funds
1.19 Protection of workers’ history, historical sites and memorials
1.20 Recognition of martyrs, rehabilitation, treatment and justice
1.21 Sustainable Industrialization, Productivity and Inclusive Development
1.22 Ensuring civic amenities in industrial areas and labor-intensive areas
1.23 Creating a work environment considering climate and global warming
1.24 Ensuring the safety and rights of migrant workers
1.25 Labor-related research and surveys
Impact:
Since the handing over and publishing of the LRC report, labour organizations and civil society groups have been actively advocating for the rapid implementation of the LRC’s recommendations. For instance, the Bangladesh Garment Sramik Samhati organized a rally in May 2025, urging the government to act on the Commission’s proposals to improve workers’ conditions. The Committee members are also undertaking both collective and individual initiatives to implement the recommendations in different capacities.