Teamwork essential as no one steps up during industrial crises: Sakhawat

Teamwork is essential for the growth of the industrial sector as whenever it is hit by a crisis, no one steps up, which leaves key officials adrift without direction, Labour and Employment Adviser M Sakhawat Hossain said today (28 April).

"Whenever a crisis arises, no one is around. Please let us know where the tripartite mechanism is at that time. In those moments, both the labour secretary and I find ourselves without direction. Effective teamwork during a crisis is essential," he said at the "OSH Conference 2025", organised by the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) in Dhaka.

All concerned sectors must join hands with the labour ministry, he said.  

Mentioning the crises he has been encountering did not emerge overnight, he said, "In many garment factories, workers' wages have been pending for two to three years. Just yesterday, representatives of British American Tobacco Bangladesh [BAT] came to me regarding workers dismissed in 2019."

He said he informed BAT that they must comply with the law or consider ceasing their operations.

Recommending that all informal sectors be brought under formal regulations, he said that if the construction sector does not come under the labour ministry's approval, no government contracts would be issued.

Speaking at the event, Labour and Employment Secretary AHM Shafiquzzaman said the government is committed to working on the recommendations made by the Labour Reform Commission. 

"A time-bound action plan has been proposed for implementation," he added.

Occupational safety and health

Speaking at a panel discussion on occupational health and safety, ILO Country Director for Bangladesh Tuomo Poutiainen said the organisation supports Bangladesh in its journey towards safer and healthier workplaces.

To maintain occupational safety and health, investing in preventive strategies, data-driven policies, and tripartite dialogue will be essential to protecting workers' rights and ensuring decent work for all, he said.

Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed, head of the Labour Reform Commission, said occupational safety is a fundamental human right, not a matter of negotiation. "Without ensuring this right, industrial sustainability is impossible."

He also expressed concern over the rising accidents in informal sectors, but noted that accidents in the formal sector have declined.

Presenting the keynote paper, Joint Inspector General of DIFE Matiur Rahman said despite the devastating Rana Plaza collapse in 2013, Bangladesh also faces yearly accidents, suggesting persistent occupational safety risks.

"We believe that accidents are even more frequent in the informal sector, though they often go unreported. If we had additional information, we could take stronger measures to prevent such incidents."

Taslima Akhter, president of Bangladesh Garment Workers Solidarity and a member of the Labour Reform Commission, said while there are strict laws and clear recommendations, occupational health and safety measures must be implemented beyond paper commitments.

Faruque Ahmed, secretary general of the Bangladesh Employers' Federation (BEF), emphasised the need to implement occupational safety standards in the informal sector and a time-bound action plan rather than endless discussions.

Rupali Chowdhury, trustee of the Bangladesh Business and Disability Network, said relevant laws were not being implemented due to a lack of awareness about the rules and their enforcement.

Chayana Rahman, women's secretary of IndustriALL Bangladesh Council, noted that women in the ready-made garment sector face various forms of harassment both at work and outside, impacting their mental well-being.

DIFE Inspector General Md Imrul Mohsin said owners, workers, and the government often treat each other as adversaries, which must change as it may allow people to exploit the situation.

Hasnat M Alamgir, director of the Institute of Research and Training at Southeast University, also presented a paper at the conference.