Let’s prioritise workers' interests for a change
The recommendations outlined in the Labour Reform Commission's report, submitted to the chief adviser on Monday, could bring about a welcome change for Bangladesh's eight crore working people—provided the proposals are accepted by all, implemented effectively, and enforced regularly.
One of the most notable recommendations is having a national minimum wage that ensures a dignified living standard for all workers and self-employed individuals regardless of industry, sector, specialised labour region, type of work, or nature of business. However, enforcing such a proposal in a country where 87.2 percent of the working population is engaged in the informal sector poses an enormous challenge. On the positive side, thanks to information technology, workers can at least become aware of their rights and use this knowledge to demand fair remuneration. Meanwhile, sector-specific minimum wages will continue to exist, as per the recommendation, but they cannot be lower than the national minimum.
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The commission also recommended significantly reforming existing labour laws—or enacting one or more new, integrated labour laws—to bring workers of all sectors, industries, and profit/non-profit organisations under legal protection. To support this, they proposed the creation of a National Labour Force Registration System and Information Repository, as well as increasing the number of labour courts.
Other recommendations include simplifying the process of trade union registration and creating a government emergency and contingency fund to help businesses sustain operations and pay workers even during international or domestic crises. The commission also proposed that two white papers be published—one on the former government's actions, investigations, trials, compensations, etc, in relation to notable workplace accidents such as Rana Plaza and Tazreen Fashions; and the other on the utilisation of the Sramik Kalyan Foundation Fund. While the commission did not specify which recommendations can be executed immediately, the chief adviser has asked for a list of those that can be implemented in the short term. We believe that work on the two white papers can and should start without delay.
Reportedly, the commission's recommendations will soon be presented to political parties for their feedback. While there appears to be no reason for any party to oppose these proposals, which aim to ensure workers' rights and protection, trusting political parties to properly implement them is difficult given their past records, especially while in power. Historically, most political parties have prioritised the interests of businesses and employers at the cost of labour rights. We can only hope that they along with businesses and employers, in line with the aspirations of the July uprising for real change, will support the delivery of pro-worker reforms this time.
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