Govt now moves to make changes in labour rules

The government has initiated a move to bring about necessary changes in the existing labour rules aiming to make them time-befitting in line with the amended labour law, officials said.

Changes were made in 50 sections of the amended labour law last year, they added.

To this end, the labour ministry has recently formed a 10-member committee, headed by its additional secretary, comprising representatives from apparel apex bodies -- Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKEMA) and representatives from rights groups.

The committee was asked to prepare the draft of amendments to the labour law within six months, the officials said.

The first meeting of the committee held on Sunday discussed major amendments to the labour law that included reduction in workers' representation threshold in formation of a trade union in a factory, eradication of child labour and provisions of SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) related to anti-trade union discrimination, a committee member said.

The workers' representation for trade union registration has been brought down to 20 per cent from 30 per cent and SoPs have been formulated, he said.

In the amended law, 16-week maternity leave has been announced as benefit which earlier was cut by employers from workers' earned leave.

Festival allowance has also been incorporated in the law to ensure that all workers receive the allowance, he added.

The other amended issues included an increasing amount of compensation for workers, legal measures if maternity welfare is not ensured and labour court judgment duration determination, he added.

"But the law does not explain the details of their procedures. It is the rules that would detail how to implement them," he told the FE on Sunday.

The meeting also asked the committee members to submit their proposals on amendment within one month, another member said.

The committee will propose changes in some other areas, if needed, to make the laws time-befitting, he added.

Amendment to the laws is a continuous process and changes take place to make the laws up-to-date, they said, adding that they sought recommendations from different labour rights groups though they are not the members of the committee formed by the government to prepare the draft.

Ministry officials said amendment to the labour rules is a timely demand for effective implementation of the amended labour law.