Business Report :
Bangladesh has taken a significant step toward improving labour rights and workplace safety by ratifying three key International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions.
The government approved Conventions 155, 187, and 190 on Wednesday, committing to comprehensive reforms in occupational safety, health, and protection against workplace violence and harassment, marking a long-overdue response to growing concerns over industrial disasters and unsafe working conditions.
Labour leaders and experts welcomed the move but stressed that ratification is only the first step. Without proper legal reforms and strict enforcement, the step could remain largely symbolic and fail to bring meaningful improvements for millions of workers across the country.
“These conventions set important international standards,” said Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmmed, Executive Director of the Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS). “Convention 190, which focuses on eliminating workplace violence and harassment, is particularly noteworthy. But ratification is just the beginning the real work is implementation, monitoring, and ensuring compliance at all levels.”
Convention 155 establishes a national framework to prevent workplace accidents by reducing hazards and clarifying safety responsibilities. Convention 187 promotes a continuous system to improve occupational safety and health through prevention, cooperation, and social dialogue. Convention 190 recognises every worker’s right to a workplace free from violence and harassment, including gender-based abuse.
Experts highlighted the urgent need to update existing laws and extend protections to the informal sector, where most accidents and violations occur but often go unreported. “Our laws often apply narrowly and are weakly enforced,” Ahmmed said. “Stronger accountability and a more inclusive enforcement system are essential to ensure worker safety nationwide.”
Razekuzzaman Ratan, president of the Socialist Labour Front, also welcomed the ratification, noting that Conventions 155 and 190 respond to long-standing demands from workers. “Ratification creates a moral obligation, but it must be followed by concrete legal measures,” he said. He emphasized that labour rights extend beyond wages, adding, “A safe, respectful work environment is not a luxury. It is a right.”
The ratification comes amid growing pressure from trade unions, international partners, and Western countries, including the EU and the US, for Bangladesh to improve labour conditions following repeated industrial accidents. While the government has pledged reforms and will report progress to the ILO, rights groups warn that effective implementation will determine whether this move truly safeguards workers’ safety, dignity, and well-being.
