Labour leaders rejected the proposed bill for enactment of a law for Export Processing Zone workers approved by the cabinet on Monday. They rejected the workers welfare union proposed for the Export Processing Zone workers in the bill saying that it could not be an alternative to trade union. In instant reaction to the approval of the bill, the labour leaders also opposed enactment of separate law for the Export Processing Zone workers saying that the workers should be brought under the purview of the existing Bangladesh Labour Act 2006. Cabinet secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam at briefing after the cabinet meeting said that the bill was approved seeking enactment of a law as the existing labour law was not applicable to the Export Processing Zone workers. He also said that the law would allow workers to form workers welfare unions or trade unions in Export Processing Zones. Bangladesh Trade Union Centre general secretary Wajedul Islam Khan told New Age that they would not accept formation of workers welfare union in the EPZs as it would be contrary to the existing labour law. It would also be contrary to the International Labour Law Conventions 87 and 98, which Bangladesh government already approved, he said. Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies the executive director Syed Sultanuddin Ahmed said that the proposed workers welfare union would not be helpful to the workers. It would be helpful to the owners to deprive the workers of their rights, he added. The Export Processing Zone workers should be brought under the purview of the existing labour law, Sultanuddin said. Samajtantrik Sramik Front general secretary Razequzzaman Ratan said there should not be separate laws for worker in a country. All the workers should be brought under the purview of the existing labour law of the country, he said. The enactment of the law would make the Export Processing Zones separate states of Bangladesh, he said. The proposed workers welfare union would not resolve labour disputes in the Export Processing Zones, said Razequzzaman. Trade Union Federation leader Faiezul Hakim also rejected the bill saying that the Export Processing Zone workers must have the right to form trade unions only. Bangladesh Trade Union Sangha leader Chowdhury Ashikul Alam said that formation of welfare union would not be accepted by the labour organisations.
