Govt issues gazette allowing trade unions with minimum 20 workers; apparel sector leaders reject move
The amended law brings domestic workers and seafarers under the definition of “worker”, enabling them to receive legal protection under the labour code
Highlights:
- New ordinance allows unions with minimum 20 workers
- Definition of "worker" expanded to include domestic workers and seafarers
- Blacklisting banned; stricter harassment rules; expanded maternity benefits
- Government says changes align with ILO conventions
- Garment sector leaders reject the amendment
The interim government has issued a new ordinance amending the labour law to allow the formation of trade unions with the consent of as few as 20 workers in an establishment, despite strong objections from employers' associations in the manufacturing sector.
The Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division published the Bangladesh Labour (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, on 17 November.
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According to the ordinance, a minimum of 20 workers employed in any factory or establishment may jointly apply for trade union registration. The ordinance specifies the required number of workers needed to form a union based on the total workforce in an establishment.
For establishments with 20 to 300 workers, at least 20 workers may apply; with 301 to 500 workers, 40 workers; with 501 to 1,500 workers, 100 workers; with 1,501 to 3,000 workers, 300 workers; and with more than 3,001 workers, 400 workers.
Previously, the labour law required the consent of 20% of the total workforce to form a trade union. The amendment now enables union formation even in establishments with a small number of workers, provided the minimum threshold of 20 is met.
The Advisory Council approved the draft of the ordinance prior to the gazette's publication. According to the government, the amendment aims to modernise the labour law, align it with international standards, and create a more balanced regulatory environment for both workers and employers.
At a briefing at the Foreign Service Academy, Law Adviser Asif Nazrul said the amendments were designed "to bring the labour law in line with several conventions of the International Labour Organization (ILO)."
He described the reforms as "historic", adding that the changes were made based on recommendations from the ILO Committee of Experts, development partners, and the tripartite committee comprising workers, employers, and the government.
Bangladesh has ratified ILO Conventions 155, 187 and 190, which were signed on 22 October by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus. The labour adviser is scheduled to travel to Geneva on 18 November to attend the ILO's annual conference, while the government plans to celebrate the convention ratification on 4 December. A committee has been formed to organise the event at the Foreign Service Academy.
The amended law brings domestic workers and seafarers under the definition of "worker", enabling them to receive legal protection under the labour code. It also makes the labour law applicable to non-profit organisations. The practice of blacklisting workers has been declared illegal. The ordinance introduces stricter measures against sexual harassment and expands maternity benefits for women workers.
The amendment also prohibits gender-based wage discrimination, strengthens alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, and mandates the creation of a fund for rehabilitation and medical support for workers injured in workplace accidents. Procedures for forming trade unions have also been simplified.
According to Dr Asif Nazrul, the revisions "make it easier for workers to exercise their right to organise and form trade unions," while also enhancing the effectiveness of dispute resolution mechanisms in industrial settings.
Meanwhile, at a meeting held yesterday (18 November), in Gulshan, apparel and textile sector leaders rejected the ordinance. They said that several key provisions had been added to the law outside the consensus reached at the meeting of the Tripartite Consultative Council (TCC).
They urged the government to immediately revise the relevant sections in line with the decisions adopted at the TCC meeting.
Mahmud Hasan Khan Babu, president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), said the sector rejects the amended law.
BKMEA President Mohammad Hatem told TBS, "The government has amended the labour law as per its own whims, which is a blueprint for destroying the industry."
