Md. Sazedul Islam :
Bangladesh along with rest of the world observes May Day, the historic day epitomising workers’ struggle for their rights, by calling for greater unity among establishment owners and workers, and striving for the country’s progress. Purpose of observing the day is to give massage to whole world to concern about rights of the workers. May Day is the day of demanding justice for the workers to make their life safer and secured. The day is observed on May 1 with a call for establishing just rights, dignity, honour, socio-economic and human rights of the working people.
The day commemorates the struggle by workers at Chicago in USA over a century ago to establish the rights of workers to a reasonable period of working hours in a day. On May 1, 1886, 10 workers were killed when police opened fire on a demonstration in the US city of Chicago near Hay Market demanding an eight rather than a 12 hour working day. But that sacrifice ultimately led to the authorities yielding to the workers’ demand and the eight-hour day has come to be introduced universally. The sacrifice of the workers forced the world leaders to help establish eight-hours working period for the workers instead of 16 hours.
On July 14, 1889 in Paris, an international workers’ rally declared May 1 as the International Workers Solidarity Day in recognition of the Chicago workers’ sacrifice and achievement and since 1890, the day has been observed globally as the International Workers Solidarity Day. May 1 is a national holiday in more than 80 countries. It is also celebrated unofficially in many other countries.
The May Day, which is a celebration of the social and economic achievements of the international labor movement, sees organized street demonstrations and street marches by millions of working people and their labor unions throughout the world.
In Bangladesh, the day is a public holiday. All industries and factories remain closed. Different organisations hold various programmes such as processions, rallies, meetings and human chain demonstrations to commemorate the sacrifices made to win their rights. On this day, beyond the celebration, we need to commit ourselves to a task of eliminating child labour and to protect the rights of the workers, specially of women workers.
In Bangladesh, workers are not treated fairly. There are huge under-age workers, who are deprived not only of education but also of their natural life. In the industries, the authorities force the labourers work hour after hour without any regard to their rights.
Many garments factories do not follow the recommendation of the national wage board. The problem of female workers is a bit higher. They work in insecure condition. They even sometimes have to face sexual harassment. A large number of domestic workers are facing exploitation in many ways at the hands of their employers. It is alleged that women continue to face discrimination and they dominate the low paid jobs.
There are 5 million domestic workers in Bangladesh, 90 of whom are women and children. A large number of domestic workers are facing exploitation in many ways at the hands of their employers.
Child labour has become rampant. They work hard like in ships, brick fields, industry etc. Everywhere they are deprived. They do not get their real reward.
According to National Sample Survey (2002-03), there are a total of 4,23,67,000 children, aged 5-17 years and of them, 7,42,3,000 are working in the country.
A joint survey of UNICEF-ILO said children are engaged in 301 types of economic works in urban areas, of these 47 are regarded as hazardous for children. In the rural areas and they were found to be engaged in about 90 types of agricultural and non-agricultural activities.
According to Labour Force Survey (BBS 2002-03), the total number of workers (aged 15 and over) in the country is 8,08,34,000. Of them, 4,58,67,000 is male while 3,49,67,000 is female. The BBS statistics said women are engaged in more or less 58 professions, which included agriculture, domestic works, garment and sewing, poultry, dairy and nursery, production related, day labourer, textile, dyeing and weaving, whole sale and retailer (owner), teaching, salesman and hawker, bidi maker, medical, glass factory and pottery, post office, clerk, supervisor clerk, brick breaker, carpenter, fisheries, caretaker, cleaner, cook, food distributor and others.
As the problems of workers persist, the government came forward taking a number of steps for welfare of the workers. Labor courts in Bangladesh promote and protect workers’ rights and enforce laws such as compensation to be paid to workers by employers for the breach of labor laws on their part. Bangladesh is a signatory nation associated to the International Labor Organization (ILO) and remains committed on the whole to ILO policies. The constitution of Bangladesh guarantees equal rights for men and women. Hence, legal measures have been adopted to protect the rights of the women workers.
There are labour laws to protect the rights of the workers. These are Factory Act 1965, Workmen Compensation Act 1923, Maternity Benefit Act 1939, Standing Orders for Employment of Labour 1965, Payment of Wage Act 1963, Shop Establishment Act 1965, Employment of Children Act 1938, Maternity Benefit, Tea Estates Acts 1950, Fatal Accidents Act 1955, Factories Act 1965, Minimum Wage Ordinance 1961, Industrial Relations Ordinance 1969, Children (Pledging of Labour) Act 1933, Employers’ Liability Act 1938.
Bangladesh government took a number of steps to eradicate child labour and ensure their welfare. A National Policy on Children was adopted by Bangladesh government. The government also launched National Plan of Action on Child labour covering all types of hazardous and abusive child labour including child trafficking and child prostitution.
Bangladesh is among the first few countries to sign the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and have already taken steps to implement its provisions.
Bangladesh enacted an important law protecting the interests of the children and their well-being named ‘The Children Act-1974.’ Number of women participation in labour market is gradually increasing in Bangladesh. Traditionally family norms and social perspectives are being changed with changes of world economic pattern.
Necessary steps have been taken to integrate women in the mainstream of economic development of the country. A lot of progress has been achieved regarding the rights of women and child workers. However, we need to do more for fulfilling the objectives of the May Day.
Bangladesh along with rest of the world observes May Day, the historic day epitomising workers’ struggle for their rights, by calling for greater unity among establishment owners and workers, and striving for the country’s progress. Purpose of observing the day is to give massage to whole world to concern about rights of the workers. May Day is the day of demanding justice for the workers to make their life safer and secured. The day is observed on May 1 with a call for establishing just rights, dignity, honour, socio-economic and human rights of the working people.
The day commemorates the struggle by workers at Chicago in USA over a century ago to establish the rights of workers to a reasonable period of working hours in a day. On May 1, 1886, 10 workers were killed when police opened fire on a demonstration in the US city of Chicago near Hay Market demanding an eight rather than a 12 hour working day. But that sacrifice ultimately led to the authorities yielding to the workers’ demand and the eight-hour day has come to be introduced universally. The sacrifice of the workers forced the world leaders to help establish eight-hours working period for the workers instead of 16 hours.
On July 14, 1889 in Paris, an international workers’ rally declared May 1 as the International Workers Solidarity Day in recognition of the Chicago workers’ sacrifice and achievement and since 1890, the day has been observed globally as the International Workers Solidarity Day. May 1 is a national holiday in more than 80 countries. It is also celebrated unofficially in many other countries.
The May Day, which is a celebration of the social and economic achievements of the international labor movement, sees organized street demonstrations and street marches by millions of working people and their labor unions throughout the world.
In Bangladesh, the day is a public holiday. All industries and factories remain closed. Different organisations hold various programmes such as processions, rallies, meetings and human chain demonstrations to commemorate the sacrifices made to win their rights. On this day, beyond the celebration, we need to commit ourselves to a task of eliminating child labour and to protect the rights of the workers, specially of women workers.
In Bangladesh, workers are not treated fairly. There are huge under-age workers, who are deprived not only of education but also of their natural life. In the industries, the authorities force the labourers work hour after hour without any regard to their rights.
Many garments factories do not follow the recommendation of the national wage board. The problem of female workers is a bit higher. They work in insecure condition. They even sometimes have to face sexual harassment. A large number of domestic workers are facing exploitation in many ways at the hands of their employers. It is alleged that women continue to face discrimination and they dominate the low paid jobs.
There are 5 million domestic workers in Bangladesh, 90 of whom are women and children. A large number of domestic workers are facing exploitation in many ways at the hands of their employers.
Child labour has become rampant. They work hard like in ships, brick fields, industry etc. Everywhere they are deprived. They do not get their real reward.
According to National Sample Survey (2002-03), there are a total of 4,23,67,000 children, aged 5-17 years and of them, 7,42,3,000 are working in the country.
A joint survey of UNICEF-ILO said children are engaged in 301 types of economic works in urban areas, of these 47 are regarded as hazardous for children. In the rural areas and they were found to be engaged in about 90 types of agricultural and non-agricultural activities.
According to Labour Force Survey (BBS 2002-03), the total number of workers (aged 15 and over) in the country is 8,08,34,000. Of them, 4,58,67,000 is male while 3,49,67,000 is female. The BBS statistics said women are engaged in more or less 58 professions, which included agriculture, domestic works, garment and sewing, poultry, dairy and nursery, production related, day labourer, textile, dyeing and weaving, whole sale and retailer (owner), teaching, salesman and hawker, bidi maker, medical, glass factory and pottery, post office, clerk, supervisor clerk, brick breaker, carpenter, fisheries, caretaker, cleaner, cook, food distributor and others.
As the problems of workers persist, the government came forward taking a number of steps for welfare of the workers. Labor courts in Bangladesh promote and protect workers’ rights and enforce laws such as compensation to be paid to workers by employers for the breach of labor laws on their part. Bangladesh is a signatory nation associated to the International Labor Organization (ILO) and remains committed on the whole to ILO policies. The constitution of Bangladesh guarantees equal rights for men and women. Hence, legal measures have been adopted to protect the rights of the women workers.
There are labour laws to protect the rights of the workers. These are Factory Act 1965, Workmen Compensation Act 1923, Maternity Benefit Act 1939, Standing Orders for Employment of Labour 1965, Payment of Wage Act 1963, Shop Establishment Act 1965, Employment of Children Act 1938, Maternity Benefit, Tea Estates Acts 1950, Fatal Accidents Act 1955, Factories Act 1965, Minimum Wage Ordinance 1961, Industrial Relations Ordinance 1969, Children (Pledging of Labour) Act 1933, Employers’ Liability Act 1938.
Bangladesh government took a number of steps to eradicate child labour and ensure their welfare. A National Policy on Children was adopted by Bangladesh government. The government also launched National Plan of Action on Child labour covering all types of hazardous and abusive child labour including child trafficking and child prostitution.
Bangladesh is among the first few countries to sign the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and have already taken steps to implement its provisions.
Bangladesh enacted an important law protecting the interests of the children and their well-being named ‘The Children Act-1974.’ Number of women participation in labour market is gradually increasing in Bangladesh. Traditionally family norms and social perspectives are being changed with changes of world economic pattern.
Necessary steps have been taken to integrate women in the mainstream of economic development of the country. A lot of progress has been achieved regarding the rights of women and child workers. However, we need to do more for fulfilling the objectives of the May Day.
