Staff Reporter :
Amendment to the Bangladesh Export Processing Zone (EPZ) Act, 2019 has been demanded to protect the rights of the workers as there are many inconsistencies in the law.
Besides, the government should make sure that trade union rights could be exercised freely inside the EPZs and minimum salary for the workers should be ensured as per international standards, said labour leaders, lawyers and court judges on Friday.
They made the call while speaking at a roundtable discussion titled “The Reformation of the EPZ Labour Law” organised by Solidary Center-Bangladesh Office in a city hotel.
Speaking at the discussion, the apparel workers and their leaders demanded immediate reforms to ensure that EPZ workers can form trade unions and enable them to enjoy labour rights along with the rest of the country’s workers.
The primary inconsistency with the labour standards is the restriction of rights to freedom of association, which leads to the formation of the mainstream trade union inside the EPZ, they said.
First Labour Court Chairman Md Aminul Haque said that the existing Bangladesh EPZ Labour Act 2019 should be reformed as soon as possible as many flaws were found in the law.
A draft of the reformed act should be prepared immediately and be sent to the authorities concerned for bringing its necessary amendment, he said.
“Proper implementation of a flawless act can ensure justice to all,”
said Aminul Haque. Second Labour Court Chairman, Md Monjurul Imam suggested the apparel workers and their leaders raise their demand for “weekly” wage payment through the “banking channel”.
Stating that Bangladesh EPZ Labour Act has many weaknesses, he said that workers’ groups are the biggest organisation and they should be united to realise their rights.
“All of you would have to work together staying above of self-interest,” he said.
Labour and Employment Ministry’s Joint Secretary Humayun Kabir said that the government has been working to protect the welfare of all workers.
Necessary initiatives would be taken as per suggestions of ILO and the European Union to amend the Bangladesh EPZ Labour Act 2019, he said.
Solidarity Center’s Deputy Country Program Director Monika Hartsel delivered a welcome address and extended her sincere thanks to the participants for joining the discussion.
Bangladesh EPZ Labour Act, 2019 prohibits workers in EPZs from forming trade unions although it does allow them to create Workers Welfare Association.
In terms of rights, the EPZ employees have received different statuses from the rest of the country’s workers especially concerning their right to freedom of association and collective bargaining.
In his keynote paper, Salim Ahsan Khan, legal counsellor of Solidarity Center, said the workers are often found being deprived of “Provident Fund” from their factories/industries.
The EPZ tribunal has not yet been formed and the rules of the act have not been adopted till now, he added.
Labour leaders voiced concerns that the act would deny employees of their basic BLA rights and that having a two-tier system of labour law was unfair and contradicted international labour standards.
Somajtantrik Sramik Front President Razequzzaman Ratan said that the country’s EPZ may turn into an exploitation promotion zones if their workers fail to enjoy their rights.
Solidarity Center’s Senior Program Officer Dr Lily Gomes, who moderated the sessions, emphasised the implementation of ILO’s “decent work” standards by having inclusiveness, irrespective of workers’ gender identities.
Labour Court Bar Association vice-president Rafiqul Islam Khan said that the rights of EPZ workers have not been protected by the act as over the last 10 years, no case of EPZ has been disposed of.
Workers’ Welfare Association (WWA) President Asadul Haque and Women Network President Nazma Begum spoke as panelist while AKM Nasim, Country Program Director of Solidary Center-Bangladesh Office, presided over the discussion.
