Dhaka, Jan 29 (V7N) Bangladesh’s Tripartite Law Reform Committee (TLRC) has made significant progress in amending the country’s Labour Law 2006, reaching consensus on 79 out of 101 proposed changes. However, critical disagreements remain on 22 key issues, including worker definitions, trade union rights, and welfare fund formations, officials announced on Wednesday.

The unresolved matters were discussed during the 82nd TLRC meeting, held at the Labour Building in Bijoynagar, Dhaka. The meeting, chaired by AHM Shafiquzzaman, Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, included representatives from the government, employers, workers, and a technical legal team from the International Labour Organization (ILO).

Shafiquzzaman confirmed that a final round of talks involving government, employer, and worker representatives is scheduled for early February to resolve the remaining issues. “We are committed to finalizing the amendments by March, ahead of the next ILO conference,” he said.

Mohammad Hatem, a representative of the employers, emphasized that employers have submitted written feedback on all 101 recommendations. He noted that the government will have the final say on issues where employers and workers fail to agree.

“Disagreements persist on defining workers, trade union rights, and the formation of welfare funds,” Hatem said. “But we are optimistic that further discussions will lead to a consensus.”

On the workers’ side, Sakil Akhter Chowdhury, a labour representative and member of the Labour Reform Commission, highlighted that workers have provided feedback on 79 proposals. He pointed out that, so far, only the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has submitted a complete written response from the government side.

With the ILO conference looming, stakeholders are under pressure to finalize the amendments by March. The Tripartite Consultative Council (TCC) is expected to hold final discussions on all proposals before presenting their recommendations.

The Labour Law 2006 has long been criticized for failing to adequately protect workers’ rights, particularly in areas such as unionization, workplace safety, and fair wages. The current reform process, initiated in response to international pressure and domestic demands, aims to bring the law in line with global labour standards.

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