Bangladesh: workers push labour reforms

Bangladesh garment workers, credit: M. Crozet/ILO

16 June, 2026Bangladesh has dropped out of the ten worst countries in the world for workers' rights for the first time in nearly a decade.

The 2026 ITUC Global Rights Index marks real progress, but also records continued suppression of workers’ rights on the ground. In the context of global labour discussions, Bangladesh labour rights remain a key focus for advocates and observers.

The gains are real. Bangladesh ratified key ILO conventions: C155 on Occupational Safety and Health. C187 on its promotional framework and C190 on Violence and Harassment. These steps are significant improvements concerning labour rights in Bangladesh.

Reforms lowered the barrier to union formation. Labour regulations now cover the shipbreaking industry. Workers receive 120 days of maternity leave. Social security has been widened.

New laws empower workers to refuse hazardous tasks. An Employment Injury Scheme Fund has been established. Violence and harassment, gender-based violence and sexual harassment now have formal legal definitions. This is a serious move to confront workplace abuse. For sectors like textile and garment, millions of women have long faced harassment on the factory floor. These developments are critically positive for them in terms of Bangladesh labour rights progress.

These reforms answer years of worker pressure. Yet, Bangladesh still sits in rank five with no guarantee of rights....

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