Bepza, ILO to work on 2-year action plan to reform Bangladesh's labour sector

The Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (Bepza) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) will collaborate on a joint two-year action plan to reform Bangladesh's labour sector.

The initiative aims to ensure a safe and dignified working environment for EPZ workers and to align business practices with international labour standards.

Bepza signed a Letter of Intent with the ILO in this regard today (19 May) at the Bepza Headquarters in the capital.

As per the Letter of Intent, the Bepza, in collaboration with ILO, is going to implement a "Two-Year Action Plan on Labour Reform ( 2025-2027 ) " for the EPZs under the authority.

The initiative includes technical collaboration with the ILO in three key areas, namely, labour administration, responsible business conduct, and an employment injury scheme.

The expected results include, but are not limited to, labour laws being reformed to align with ratified conventions, enhanced social dialogue, more effective labour law enforcement by labour inspectors, increased buyer and investor confidence due to improved compliance, and strengthened social protection of workers in the EPZs.

Moreover, Bepza and ILO will collaborate on exploring possibilities of advancing the skills of workers. This initiative will play an important role in improving labour standards in Bangladesh by ensuring basic fundamental principles and rights at work and social security of the workers in the EPZs.

Bepza Executive Chairman Major General Abul Kalam Mohammad Ziaur Rahman said, "The two-year action plan between Bepza and ILO will strengthen labour standards, workers' rights, and workplace safety in EPZs.

"It aligns with the National Action Plan (NAP) and National Social Security Strategy (NSSS) of Bangladesh, promoting decent work and social dialogue."

He said, "As we approach graduation from LDC, we must comply with the requirements of international standards, improved social protection for the workers for our own sake, to take the country forward.

"Bepza looks forward to working with all relevant stakeholders to implement this initiative effectively."

ILO Bangladesh country director Tuomo Poutiainen said, "Most of the EPZs that I visited have been impeccable in many ways and there's very much attention to organisation of work, safety at work, worker welfare in terms of child care or health care. All these things are totally possible and already exist in Bangladesh."

"So, I believe that these measures that we are taking forward by inking this Letter of Intention today will just help to frame that better, will help to address some of the perhaps shortcomings in terms of the governance and bring forward a system that stands scrutiny by anybody," he added.

Also speaking at the ceremony, Lutfey Siddiqi, the chief adviser's special envoy on international affairs, said, `` Bepza is a symbol of excellence. It's already a symbol of standards, whether it's environmental standards or labour standards. And so in many ways. ''

He said, ``Where you [Bepza] have an action plan which is time bound, it's constructive, collaborative, and it has this design feature that you're going to start with a pilot and then expand as opposed to.''

Currently, Bepza operates eight EPZs across the country, along with the BEPZA Economic Zone in Mirsharai, Chattogram. Additionally, work is underway to establish two more EPZs in Patuakhali and Jashore districts. 

 Bepza hosts 447 industrial enterprises, with around 550,000 workers employed. To date, the total investment in the EPZs has amounted to $7.13 billion, and total exports have reached to $117.62 billion.