During a recent meeting with the Labour Reform Commission, Oxfam underscored the urgent necessity for strong legislation and interventions to safeguard the millions of informal workers in Bangladesh, especially those in the ready-made garment (RMG) industry. Presently, over 85 per cent of the country’s workforce is engaged in the informal sector, where they often contend with hazardous working conditions, financial instability, and exploitation.
The gathering, which took place at Srom Bhaban, included representatives from the government, non-governmental organisations, development partners, media, and civil society, aiming to address the critical challenges confronting these workers.
Oxfam and its collaborators urged the Government of Bangladesh to ratify essential International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions, particularly Conventions C188, C189, and C190, which would provide vital legal protections for informal workers, including those in the RMG sector. The organisation proposed the implementation of minimum wage standards, enhanced access to social safety nets such as health insurance and pension plans, and improved enforcement mechanisms to monitor workplace safety and rights.
Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed, the Head of the Labour Reform Commission, highlighted the importance of protecting informal workers, stating, “Safeguarding informal workers goes beyond economic factors; it is fundamentally a matter of justice. Recognising their contributions honors the dignity of all individuals.”
Mahfuzul Haque, a former secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, supported this view, emphasising that labor rights are essential for sustainable development. He called for efforts to close the gap between policy and practice to protect the country’s most vulnerable workers, particularly within the RMG sector.
