Bangladesh moves toward ratifying ILO C190 to end workplace harassment

Bangladesh is taking a decisive step toward ensuring safer, violence-free workplaces for all as government officials, trade union leaders, employers' representatives, and development partners gathered in Dhaka for a national dialogue reaffirming the country's commitment to ratify ILO Convention No. 190 (C190).

The dialogue held on Wednesday which addresses violence and harassment in the world of work, marks a landmark international agreement aimed at protecting workers in all sectors, especially women who face abuse not just in the workplace but also during commutes and at home.

At the event, organised by the Trade Union International Labour Standards (TU ILS) Committee with support from the European Union and other partners, key figures from the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs and the Ministry of Labour and Employment underscored their readiness to align national laws with C190.

The dialogue comes at a pivotal moment as Bangladesh undertakes long-awaited reforms to the Bangladesh Labour Act and prepares new legislation targeting sexual harassment.

"There is no reason it shouldn't be ratified, and my ministry stands ready to fully support its ratification and implementation," adviser to Ministry of Women and Children Affairs Sharmeen S. Murshid said in the national dialogue.

"Violence and harassment aren't confined to the workplace—they happen at home, during commutes, and on the journey back. How can women truly thrive professionally under such conditions? Convention 190 addresses all these dimensions comprehensively.

The TU ILS Committee, set up under the National Coordination Committee for Workers' Education (NCCWE) and the Industrial Bangladesh Council (IBC), are playing a crucial role in promoting ratifications and application of ratified Conventions both in law and practices.

The event is supported by the Advancing Decent Work in Bangladesh project with a funding of the Team Europe Initiative on Decent Work in Bangladesh by the European Union, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Sweden.

Secretary to Ministry of Labour and Employment A H M Shafiquzzaman said, "It is a sobering reality that, even in 2025, we continue to grapple with violence and harassment in the workplace despite the progress our society has made. I am fully committed to aligning the Bangladesh Labour Act with C190 to establish a strong legal framework that truly protects workers. Before I retire, I am determined to ratify Conventions Nos 155, 187, and 190 along with ensuring Bangladesh Labour Act amendment completion."

"For Bangladesh, ratification would demonstrate strong national and global commitment to decent work. It would further contribute to enhancing laws and practices aimed at producing safe, harassment and violence free workplaces for women and men in in Bangladesh," said Tuomo Poutiainen, Country Director, ILO.

Workers' representatives emphasised that ratifying C190 will reinforce Bangladesh's commitment to safe and dignified workplaces and support the implementation of national policies on violence and harassment.

The dialogue included information session on C190 and ongoing reform of the Bangladesh Labour Act to be more aligned with the Convention, conducted by Elena Gerasimova, Labour Law and Labour Standards Specialist, ILO and Mohammad Mashooqur Rahman Sikder, Joint Secretary to the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

The session was followed by a panel discussion where speakers explored the current violations faced by workers, especially women workers, in the workplace, and the role of workers' and employers' organizations to ensure eradication of violence and harassment at work.

Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed, Executive Director, Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS) and Head of Labour Reform Commission, Shireen Pervin Huq, Chairperson, Women Affairs Reform Commission, Badal Khan, Chairperson, NCCWE, Towhidur Rahman, President, Bangladesh Apparels Workers Federation (BAWF), Rafiqul Islam, Secretary, BGMEA, Saki Rezwana, Chairperson, Women's Committee, NCCWE, and China Rahman, Women Secretary, IBC attended this panel discussion.