The interim government on Wednesday ratified three key International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions, a move Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus described as a historic milestone in advancing workers’ rights in Bangladesh.
The ratification ceremony took place at the State Guesthouse Jamuna, with Labour, Employment, and Shipping Adviser Brigadier General (retd) M Sakhawat Hussain signing the instruments on behalf of the government. The three conventions ratified were the Occupational Safety and Health Convention 1981 (No-155), the Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention 2006 (No-187), and the Violence and Harassment Convention 2019 (No-190). Conventions 155 and 187 were declared fundamental by the ILO in 2022.
Recalling the 2013 Rana Plaza tragedy, Prof Yunus said, “From the tragedy of Rana Plaza to today’s signing, we have reached a milestone. At least we complete the paper-related part. Now the real work begins.” He stressed that the conventions’ provisions must be conveyed to everyone to ensure full implementation.
Chief Adviser’s Special Envoy Lutfey Siddiqi, Secretary of the Chief Adviser’s Office Md Mahmudul Hossain Khan, Secretary of the labour and employment ministry Md Sanwar Jahan Bhuiyan, and ILO Country Director Max Tunon attended the ceremony. Tunon congratulated the government and pledged continued support to implement the conventions and Labour Law Reform Commission recommendations.
With this ratification, Bangladesh becomes the only country in South Asia to have ratified all 10 fundamental ILO conventions, underlining the government’s commitment to protecting workers and upholding international labour standards.
