Labour Rights

To be heard, workers need trade unions

In these lesser-monitored sectors workers are particularly vulnerable.

MAY DAY 2025 / The hands that build the world must be protected

On this May Day, let us remember that the dignity of work begins with the dignity of the worker.

Rights advocates criticise fashion brands for failure to protect labour rights in Bangladesh

The Clean Clothes Campaign urges brands to take swift action

Protect the invisible backbone

It’s high time we ensured basic rights in the informal sector

Will corporations finally be held accountable?

EU’s new law on corporate responsibility a step in the right direction

We wouldn't be worried about US labour policy if we upheld labour rights

If this is the situation with labour rights in the country, we should fear not only the repercussions of the US memorandum, but also potential actions of the European Union.

'China, India can't replace our export market to the US, EU'

M Touhid Hossain, former foreign secretary of Bangladesh, discusses the implications and significance of the recent US labour rights policy with The Daily Star.

You can’t quell workers’ hunger by opening fire on them

Rather than assuage the workers by announcing a respectable wage, the wage board has essentially fuelled workers’ outrage and made a mockery of the wage negotiation process

Labour law must protect right to strike

Latest amendment does not do enough to conform to international labour standards

April 30, 2022
April 30, 2022

Does anyone care about the jute mill workers?

At a time when the demand for jute products in the world is increasing, and new private jute mills are being established, government workers are being handed over to the private mills.

May 1, 2019
May 1, 2019

Working for a brighter future in Asia

With nearly two decades of strong economic growth, the world’s highest employment ratios and lowest unemployment rates, and massive technological innovation, some say “Asia is the future” or even “The future is Asia”.

April 3, 2019
April 3, 2019

Health issues of RMG workers need attention

Garment workers have received a fair share of attention over the last few years due to their poor working conditions, low wages and benefits, and inadequate facilities at their factories of employment.

July 30, 2018
July 30, 2018

Ensuring labour rights can tackle human trafficking

Hundreds of millions of dollars are spent every year on counter trafficking efforts, mostly on investigation and criminal prosecution, raids to "rescue" irregular migrants and sex workers who are thought to be potential victims and trainings to raise awareness among those who might possibly experience or encounter human trafficking.

June 24, 2017
June 24, 2017

ITUC report on workers' condition

We would hope that the government would not approach the issue in the usual cavalier manner and dismiss the report offhand. The matter demands to be addressed seriously.

April 21, 2016
April 21, 2016

Pave way for unionisation in garments: HRW

Bangladesh government should urgently remove legal and practical obstacles to unionization in garment industries, Human Rights Watch says.

April 14, 2016
April 14, 2016

Bangladesh failed at times to control security forces: US

The United States has said the government of Bangladesh took 'limited measures' to investigate and prosecute cases of abuse and killing by security forces. The US, in its 2015 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, claimed authorities failed at times to maintain effective control over security forces.

October 23, 2015
October 23, 2015

New Saudi regulations to protect workers’ rights

The Saudi Arabian government announces new labour regulations to protect the workers’ rights by bringing the employers under strict rules including financial fines.

June 13, 2015
June 13, 2015

The delusion of Bangladesh's cheap labour

Within no time, this demographic dividend may spell a demographic disaster with teeming multitudes of disillusioned, jobless men and women devoid of high skills needed to survive in an environment of cut-throat competition.

April 30, 2015
April 30, 2015

May Day: A day in the life of a restaurant worker

Employees at different hotels and restaurants in Pabna are forced to work 12 to 15 hours a day. And despite this long hours of work, they are poorly paid.