Bangladesh should ratify international conventions to extend legal protections to informal workers, says Oxfam

Oxfam and its partners have highlighted the need for Bangladesh to ratify key international conventions, including ILO Conventions C189, C190 and C188, to extend legal protections to informal workers.

They also recommend establishing minimum wage standards, ensuring access to social safety nets such as health insurance and pension schemes, and strengthening security and rights enforcement mechanisms. in the workplace.

Oxfam presented these ideas and recommendations at a meeting with the Labor Reform Commission at Shram Bhaban in Dhaka today.

The committee convened the meeting bringing together representatives of the government, Oxfam, NGOs, development partners, media and civil society organizations. The objective was to discuss strategies to protect informal workers and improve their working conditions while aligning Bangladesh’s labor policies with international standards.

Joining the session, Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed, head of the Labor Reform Commission, said:

“Protecting informal workers is not just an economic issue: it is a matter of justice. Recognizing their contributions ensures dignity for all.”

Moderated by Shakil Akhter Chowdhury, Member of the Labor Reform Commission, participants discussed critical issues including the economic and social disparities faced by marginalized workers and the urgent need to formalize their role in the country’s labor framework. .

Mahfuzul Haque, former secretary of the Ministry of Labor and Employment, said: “Labor rights are essential for sustainable development. We must close the gap between policy and practice to protect our most vulnerable workers.

Salama Akter, a representative of the domestic worker community, said: “We cannot live a good life because we do not even receive a minimum wage to manage daily expenses and recognition. We are not included in labor law; As a result, we are beyond any form of formal support. »

Presenting the document, Mehzabin Ahmed, head of gender justice and social inclusion at Oxfam in Bangladesh, said: “The invisible hands that run our economy deserve to be seen, valued and protected. Labor reforms must address the unique vulnerabilities of marginalized workers.

According to the document presented at the meeting by Oxfam, marginalized workers in various sectors face serious challenges. Domestic workers earn an average of Tk 5,311 per month, far below their expenditure of Tk 10,801, with 96% of them reporting insufficient pay and 67% facing abuse. Home-based garment workers earn as little as 50 paisa per piece, and 71% of them face gender discrimination. Tea plantation workers earn just Tk170 per day – the lowest in the world – leaving them 74% below the poverty line with limited access to healthcare and education. Fishermen do not benefit from minimum wage protections and only 4% of female fishermen have received a fisherman’s card.

Bangladesh’s informal sector, which employs more than 85% of the country’s workforce (96.6% of whom are women), remains largely excluded from formal labor laws, leaving millions vulnerable to harsh conditions. dangerous, exploitation and economic insecurity.