Country Report -Bangladesh
A359013
T R A D E U N I O N O R G A N I Z I N G S T R AT E G I E S
FOR DEVELOPMENT AND INCLUSION
2 3 - 2 7 M AY 2 0 1 6
SEOUL, KOREA
S U B M I T T E D B Y:
S I D D I QA M O H O L
MEMBER, EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
B A N G L A D E S H J A T I Y A TA B A D I S R A M I K DA L - B J S D
Country Status-Bangladesh
 Currently in Bangladesh total economically active




population/total labour force are :
60.7 million (Age 15 years and above) and among them18.2 million (30 percent) are female.
Out of total employed population (58.1 million) female
are 16.8 million (29 percent).
Total unpaid population is 10.6 million, where female are
8.4 million..
(Source: Labour Force Survey 2013, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics)
Trade Unionism in Bangladesh
-Bangladesh TU history has a long story of struggle
-the TU movement started its journey in this region
in around 1921
-It played a vital role in the fights against colonial
oppressions both during British and Pakistani regime.
-it had an outstanding contribution in the war of
liberation and all the democratic movements of the
country.
Facts on Trade union
Total Members of Basic Unions
: 23,24,680
Total Basic Unions
: 7279
Trade Union in Garments Sector
: 245
National Trade Union Federations
: 32
Total union under national federations
: 1352
Total membership
: 10,76,367
Workers organised with national federation membership
: 2%
Structure of Trade Union
Three-tire distribution
National Federation: Tripartite bodies of the country. it intervenes in national policy
formulation and creates pressure in protecting the rights and interests of the working
class people and the trade union activists as well. At present the country has 31 National
Trade Union Federation.
Industrial Federation: Body of unions from the same industrial sector. It deals with
common problems and demands of the sector wise workers. Basic unions within the
sector are its members.
At present the country has a total of 84 Industrial Federations. 355 Basic unions are working
under these federations.


Basic Union: This is the main union formed by the direct participation of the workers.
Grass root level activists are the members of this workplace based unions. Elected body of
industry of factory level unions works as Collective Bargaining Agent- CBA.
Consultation Mechanism in Bangladesh
 Bipartite discussion:
Discussion between workers & employers with employment
issue in centre. Here CB agent represents the workers.
 Conciliation:
According to Bangladesh Labour Law-2006, the Labour
Director or any other person as agreed by the parties may
act as conciliator between two parties.
 Arbitration:
Any Independent or the Labour Court Can be arbitrator
In addition, informal procedure of dispute resolution outside
the court is also another effective and popular way.
Scope of Collective Bargaining
• Bangladesh ratified ILO convention 87 & 98 and
Labour Law has which Granted the Freedom of
association and Collective Bargaining .
• In principle of Labour Law, Bangladesh recognizes
the right to Collective Bargaining of workers.
• Private sector workers enjoy Collective Bargaining
rights fully.
• Workers of State-owned enterprise enjoy
Collective Bargaining rights partially (esp. Wage
and Allowance are not in included in CB).
Limitations of Collective Bargaining
Despite the recognition of Collective Bargaining
by Bangladesh Labour Law, there are huge
limitations: Workers of public sector do not have collective
bargaining (esp. government employees)
 Autonomous bodies and some govt. institution like
telecom, railway can bargain but they are restrained
from bargaining on wage.
 Professional and Managerial staff are not included in
the collective bargaining rights.
Cont.
 Informal workers, domestic workers and home
based workers excluded from the Labour Law
protection are not covered by collective bargaining.
 Restriction on strike on newly established
enterprises also restricts the scope for collective
bargaining.
 Lengthy, conditional in the entire process of union
registration and restriction in some areas in
registration make collective bargaining difficult in
national and industrial level.
Main Challenges of TU in Bangladesh
(Trade Union Immediate Issues)
a. Updating of labour law to increase coverage (Only 20% of total
workforce covered by the labour Law).
b.
Enforcement of Law: presently structural weakness of informant,
lack of logistic support of the inspection department, implementation
of labour law is very weak.
c. Free & fair exercise of trade Union Rights
Normally there is a strong opposition by employer group towards
formulation of Trade Union and Government role also supported to
them.
d. Organization is the informal sectors workers
e. Inadequate wage
f. Improve Health and safety condition.
g. Unemployment
Important priorities for trade unions’ actions











Organise the informal sector
Capacity building of the unions including financial capacity
Face the adverse attitude and victimization
Update labour law in line with ILS and ensure proper
enforcement
Ensure a fare national minimum wage
Campaign for Social Security
Eliminate discrimination and Organise women workers
Ensure workplace environment and occupational Health
and safety .
Ensure DW for all
Campaign for Green Jobs and awareness on climate
change.
Protect Migrant Workers
What to do to extent of unionization and strengthen
Collective Bargaining?
• Further amendment of Labour Law in line with ILO
convention 87 & 98, so that all workers can enjoy
Collective Bargaining.
• Discourse settlement mechanism in conciliation and
arbitration of system should be strengthened.
•Trade Union capacity also needs to be strengthened.
•Ensuring social security of workers.
• Solidarity support in industrial action is necessary.
Decent Work Country Program and the role of trade
unions in the programme
 Bangladesh Decent Work Country Programme was
developed and has been implemented for the period of 20062009 & ( 2012-2015), focussing on four key outcomes:
 Improving skills training and entrepreneurship for enhanced employability and
livelihoods.
 Improving coverage of social protection and rights for workers in selected
sectors, including for migrants.
 Combating child labour with priority focus on the
worst forms of child labour
 Strengthening social dialogue.
The Bangladesh DWCP contributes to the achievement :
especially in the areas of Education and Pro-Poor Growth, Social protection, and
Gender Equality and Advancement of Women. Improving skills training and
entrepreneurship for enhanced employability And livelihoods.
All national centres of NCCWE was involve in Decent work programme.
Thank You !