Once implemented, key issues such as minimum wage, fixed working hours, various types of leave, mandatory appointment letters, prevention of workplace discrimination and harassment, maternity benefits, and job permanence are expected to come under statutory legal protection.
According to sources within the Ministry of Public Administration, an important stakeholder meeting was held on May 10 at the Secretariat.
Chaired by the Ministry’s Senior Secretary Md. Ehsanul Hoque, the meeting decided to gather feedback from relevant ministries, business organizations, and private sector representatives. Formal letters have already been sent to the concerned parties, requesting their input within 15 working days.
Sources further revealed that based on the feedback received, necessary amendments or new clauses may be incorporated into the “Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006” and the “Bangladesh Labour Rules, 2015”.
A committee led by Mostafa Zaman, Additional Secretary (Regulations Wing) of the Ministry of Public Administration, has been formed to supervise this process.
Mostafa Zaman, the head of the committee, stated that the initiative aims to fulfill the government’s electoral commitments and elevate the standard of living for private-sector workers.
He noted that employees frequently face challenges like job insecurity, sudden terminations, lack of maternity leave, and deprivation of service benefits. The integrated rules are being designed to mitigate these ongoing crises.
Furthermore, discussions have also emerged regarding a separate policy framework for gig economy and app-based workers, such as those driving or delivering for Uber, Pathao, and Foodpanda.
Since there are currently no specific service rules governing these sectors, the new framework is expected to place significant importance on their rights.
According to the Labour Force Survey by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), the vast majority of the country’s employed population works in the private sector.
Consequently, the successful implementation of this government initiative is poised to bring a transformative and positive impact on the professional lives of millions of workers.