Labour law cases drag on for 7 years: BILS

The Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS) has claimed that the labour lawsuits of big companies drag on for 7-8 years in court, despite the legal obligation to complete the cases in the labour court within 60 working days.

The organisation said these cases can go from 60 days to 90 days or 150 days at most under special circumstances, but not for years.

BILS stated this at a workshop titled “Bangladesh Labour Act-2006: Reality and Development Recommendations in the Light of Decent Work,” with the participation of journalists and media representatives on Sunday.

The workshop was held at the Nasrul Hamid Auditorium of Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU).

Rajekuzzaman Ratan, president of the Samajtantrik Sramik Front, said at the workshop, "A survey has shown that the garment sector workers are in most risky sector in Bangladesh. Journalists are in the second position. More needs to be done to develop these sectors.”

He added, "There is a lot in our labour law but those are not implemented. What will happen to us with the law that is not being enforced? Our bad laws are being enforced well, and our good laws are not being enforced.”

Nazrul Islam Khan, secretary general and executive director of BILS, said at the workshop that labour laws and regulations need to be further amended.

“There has been a committee for this. It is necessary to ensure that the workers' representatives can participate well in the committee,” he also said.

“Our labour laws are much better than other laws in the world,” he said, adding, “But this law is not being implemented properly.”

Chowdhury Ashiqul Alam, general secretary of the Bangladesh Trade Union Confederation, recommended that all workers — both institutional and non-institutional, regardless of the type, duration or position of employment, engaged in production and service work in exchange for wages — should be brought under the Labour Act.

"Necessary provisions should be included in the labour law to ensure healthcare for all workers in the country," he added.

"The national pension scheme should be introduced in the private sector. The coverage of social security for workers needs to be increased," he further said.