Desk Report:
The ‘Bangladesh Labor (Amendment) Bill, 2026’ has been unanimously passed in the Parliament with the aim of resolving the long-standing instability in the country’s industrial sector and consolidating the rights of workers. On Thursday (April 9, 2026), the bill was raised in the Parliament by State Minister for Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Md. Nurul Haque on behalf of Labor and Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury and it was passed by voice vote. The ‘Bangladesh Labor (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025’ issued on November 17, 2025, became a full-fledged law through its passage in the form of a bill.
The new law passed has brought several groundbreaking changes in the interest of workers. From now on, there will be no percentage complications in forming a trade union and an application for union formation can be made with the consent of a minimum of 20 workers. The maternity leave of female workers has been increased from 112 days to 120 days or four months. In addition, the annual festival holiday has been increased from 11 days to 13 days, and in every establishment employing 100 or more workers, a provision has been made for the formation of a future fund or participation in the ‘Pragati Scheme’ of the National Pension Authority upon written application of two-thirds of the workers.
This law, for the first time, has clearly defined ‘sexual harassment’ and made it mandatory to form a ‘grievance redressal committee’ headed by a woman in every establishment. Wage discrimination between men and women in the same work has been strictly prohibited. In addition, the rights of domestic workers, agricultural workers and seafarers have been legally recognized by bringing them under specific sections of the labor law.
The law has made provisions for the formation of trade unions and the nomination of collective bargaining representatives for workers. In addition, this law has made provisions for the formation of a ‘National Social Dialogue Forum’ for the purpose of formulating labor laws and policies at the national level, as well as the formation of independent and impartial alternative dispute resolution authorities for the settlement of labor disputes. The definition of seafarer has been determined in accordance with international conventions.
In addition to ensuring the protection of workers’ personal information, there is a provision for punishment for unfair labor practices, considering their ‘blacklisting’ as unfair labor practices.
The passage of this law is not just a legal process, but it is a reflection of the spirit of the July 2024 mass uprising and the long-standing struggle of workers. It will play an important role in ensuring the standards of the International Labor Organization, as well as maintaining the existing duty-free and quota-free benefits in the European Union market and obtaining GSP Plus benefits.
It will play an effective role in the implementation of the 11 points of the United States, Bangladesh’s largest single export market. The government hopes that through the implementation of this law, good employer-labor relations will be established and a positive and stable working environment will be ensured in the overall industry, including the garment sector, the main source of the country’s export income.
