Bangladesh Labour Law 2006: A Simple and Practical Look with Global Comparison
1. Introduction
Laws about work are made to defend the interests of employees and make sure they are safe,
respected, and treated fairly. The law made in Bangladesh in 2006 was created to manage workers'
rights, employer duties, working hours, safety at work, and other important areas. In todays
connected world, it's useful to see how this law compares with rules in other countries and where it
might need updates.
2. Key Points of the 2006 Labour Law
This law brings older rules together and focuses on several important parts:
A) Job Conditions:
- Explains how work contracts should be made
- Gives rules for ending jobs fairly
- Makes it a must to give job confirmation letters
B) Wages and Benefits:
- The government sets the lowest pay for each industry
- Extra work must be paid more
- Offers paid leave for new mothers and other benefits
C) Working Hours and Leave:
- A worker can work 8 hours a day, up to 48 hours a week
- With extra time, total can go to 60 hours per week
- Workers get paid time off for sickness, festivals, and vacations
D) Worker Safety and Rights:
- Employers must provide health and safety at work
- No child can be made to work in unsafe jobs
- Workers can form unions and speak up together
E) Solving Disputes:
- Special courts deal with work-related issues
- Workers can try mediation or arbitration
- The law protects people from losing their jobs unfairly
3. Comparing with Global Standards
The International Labour Organization (ILO) suggests certain rules that many countries follow:
- Minimum Wage: Bangladesh sets this by industry, while others tie it to real living costs
- Work Hours: Bangladesh allows up to 60 hours with overtime; in the EU or USA, it's usually 40
hours
- Maternity Leave: Bangladesh offers 16 weeks paid; EU offers more than 26, USA gives 12 unpaid
- Union Rights: Still quite limited in Bangladesh compared to strong union laws in many other
countries
- Safety Rules: The law exists, but not always enforced strongly
4. Real-Life Examples
i. Rana Plaza Disaster (2013):
This was a tragic event where over 1,100 workers died when a building collapsed. It showed serious
safety problems. Pressure from abroad led to the Fire and Building Safety Accord.
ii. Tazreen Fashions Fire (2012):
Another sad examplemore than 110 people died due to locked doors and no fire drills. This showed
the need for real safety rules, not just written ones.
iii. The Accord:
This agreement between global brands and unions made factory inspections happen. It improved
safety, though the changes mostly came from outside help.
iv. Export Zones:
Workers in special export areas can't easily form unions. This breaks international standards and
brings global criticism.
5. Challenges Still Facing Workers
- Not enough trained staff to check if rules are followed
- Most workers are in informal jobs with no legal safety
- Forming unions is hard and sometimes unsafe
- Courts are slowcases take years
- Women face unfair treatment, especially when pregnant
- Many factories still don't have basic safety
- No strong retirement or unemployment support
6. What Can Be Done
- Train more inspectors to visit workplaces often
- Set minimum wages based on real cost of living
- Enforce real safety checks in factories
- Make it easier to form and run unions
- Offer basic protections like retirement and job-loss support
7. Closing Summary
The 2006 law was a big step, but much more needs to be done. When compared to international
rules, it falls short in key areas. Bangladesh must update its laws and focus on real enforcement so
workers get the fairness, safety, and respect they deserve.
