We got an elected government through the National Parliamentary Election 2026.
On the eve of the election, a ‘Workers’ Manifesto formulated on the recommendations of Labour Reform Commission, nine-point demand of Shramik Karmochari Oikyo Parisad (SKOP) on behalf of Shramik Odhikar Jatiya Advocacy Alliance and recommendations of Shramik Nirapatya Forum (SNF) was formally handed over to the political parties.
Its objective was to ensure the dignity, rights and labour protection of about seven and a half crore working people of the country.
Workers’ job opportunity, fair wage, safe working atmosphere, social protection and Trade Union’s independence and effective implementation of Labour Law as well as workers’ aspirations have been highlighted in the manifesto.
Different political parties expressed a number of commitments in their election manifesto for welfare of the working people making us optimistic.
It is worth-mentioning that some recommendations have been incorporated in the poll manifesto of Bangladesh Nationalist Party- BNP which got a huge mandate from the people in the past election.
It is hoped that each and every member of the parliament of both the government and opposition parties who got elected by the people will work to fulfill their election commitments.
On the other hand, the responsibility of all workers, workers’ organisations, Trade Unions, different organisations working for rights and welfare of workers will play their active role in implementing the demands of the proposed ‘Labour Manifesto’ and the commitments of the political parties relating to the protection of the working population so that the government and the opposition parties, members of parliament (MPs), all political parties and civil society remain active in this regard.
In brief, the recommendations of ‘Labour Manifesto’ are as follows:
1. Ensuring legal recognition, registration and protection of all workers through necessary amendments in Labour Law.
2. Ensuring the right and opportunity of decent and dignified work of the working population.
3. Ensuring fair wage of all workers that is suitable for their dignified life and flourishment of their life.
4. Ensuring workers’ safe and healthy working atmosphere, increasing the amount of compensation for accidents and publishing the reports relating to trial for the accidents and their investigations.
5. Ensuring social security of the working population especially their rationing, housing and hygienic services.
6. Ensuring the right to organise and bargain.
7. Practising industrial relationship and development, workers’ participation in formulating policy and representation as well as forming national social dialogue forum according to existing Labour Law.
8. Making administrative and legal arrangements to lodge complaints against violation of labour rights and ensuring fair wage.
9. Ensuring equal rights in the workplace and elimination of harassment, cruelty and discrimination.
It is imperative to take steps to recognise women’s wageless service as ‘work’ at the state level and to take necessary steps for elimination of gender-based discrimination.
Taking remedial measures and acceptance of complaints of victims for sexual harassment at workplace, on roads and public places were suggested.
Installation of CCTV cameras and create community assistance framework at public place and industrial areas needed to ensure security of women workers.
They also include prevention of all types of harassment including sexual harassment and ensuring woman-friendly working atmosphere, making arrangement for separate shelters for rest and toilets, ensuring universal maternity protection and enhancement of maternity leave with full wage to six months, formulating special scheme for workers of informal sector, and coordination of welfare-oriented activities for women and children in different ministries.
10 Stopping child labour and making arrangements for protection of juvenile workers.
Enhancement of working age to minimum 16 years and employing juveniles aged 16 to 18 years at workplaces where there is enough opportunity for their skill development flourishment of creativity.
It is imperative to create opportunity for standard education of children of insolvent and working families at free of cost by supplying books and educational implements for free till at least secondary level.
Creating skill-developed working population by imparting quality technical education to them that is available easily.
11. Taking steps in light of international business liability to tackle the challenges of climate and technological change, fair transformation in the background of the fourth industrial revolution and automation as well as challenges relating to social, environmental and human rights issues.
12. Taking effective steps to ensure rights, security and protection of migrant workers.
13. Taking steps for the right to do trade union activities for EPZ workers and ensuring labour rights and workers’ skill development in case of all foreign investments.
14. Forming a national permanent labour commission.It is imperative to observe and evaluate the implementation of recommendations of the labour reform commission to tackle the crisis at the workplace at national level as well as ensure an accountable labour administration system. form a permanent labour commission.
It is our firm expectation that the government and opposition parties will take steps to realise their commitments to implement the ‘ Workers Manifesto’ that they committed during the past parliamentary polls to create a dignified Bangladesh and inclusive as well as a fair society.
(The writer is a senior journalist and columnist; e-mail: amkhairz@gmail.com)