Bangladesh should ratify int'l conventions to extend legal protections to informal workers: Oxfam

Oxfam and its partners emphasised the need for Bangladesh to ratify key international conventions, including ILO Conventions C189, C190, and C188, to extend legal protections to informal workers.

They also recommend setting minimum wage standards, ensuring access to social safety nets such as health insurance and pension schemes, and strengthening enforcement mechanisms for workplace safety and rights monitoring.

Oxfam presented these insights and recommendations during a meeting with the Labour Reform Commission at Shram Bhaban in Dhaka today.

The commission convened the meeting bringing together representatives from the government, Oxfam, NGOs, development partners, media, and civil society organisations. The objective was to discuss strategies to protect informal workers and improve their working conditions while aligning Bangladesh's labor policies with international standards.

Joining the session, Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed, head of the Labor Reform Commission, said,

"Protecting informal workers is not just an economic issue—it is a matter of justice. Recognizing their contributions ensures dignity for all."

Moderated by Shakil Akhter Chowdhury, member of the Labour Reform Commission, participants delved into critical issues, including the economic and social disparities marginalised workers face and the urgent need to formalise their roles within the country's labor framework.

Mahfuzul Haque, former ministry of labour and employment secretary, said, "Labor rights are essential for sustainable development. We must bridge the gap between policy and practice to protect our most vulnerable workers."

Salama Akter, a representative from the domestic workers community, said, "We can't live a good life as we don't get even a minimum salary to manage daily expenses and recognition. We are not included in the labour law; as a result, we are out of all forms of formal support."  

Presenting the paper, Mehzabin Ahmed, head of Gender Justice and Social Inclusion at Oxfam in Bangladesh, said, "The invisible hands driving our economy deserve to be seen, valued, and protected. Labour reforms must address the unique vulnerabilities of marginalised workers."

According to the paper presented during the meeting by Oxfam, marginalised workers in various sectors face severe challenges. Domestic workers earn an average of Tk5,311 monthly, far below their Tk10,801 expenses, with 96% reporting insufficient wages and 67% facing abuse. Home-based garment workers earn as little as 50 paisa per piece, with 71% experiencing gender-based discrimination. Tea plantation workers earn just Tk170 daily—the lowest globally—leaving 74% below the poverty line with limited access to healthcare and education. Fisherfolk lack minimum wage protections, and only 4% of women fisherfolk have received fisherfolk cards.

Bangladesh's informal sector, which employs more than 85% of country's labour force (96.6% of them are women), remains largely excluded from formal labour laws, leaving millions vulnerable to unsafe conditions, exploitation, and economic insecurity.