Adviser Sakhawat outlines year of major labour-sector reforms, milestones

Labour and Employment Adviser Brigadier General (retd) Dr M Sakhawat Hussain on Monday presented a comprehensive list of key reforms and achievements made by the ministry over the past year.Sakhawat said the biggest achievement was establishing a new level of international recognition for Bangladesh’s labour sector through extensive reforms carried out under tripartite cooperation among workers, employers and the government.“Based on tripartite collaboration, Bangladesh has reached new heights in labour rights, industrial harmony and global acceptability,” he told a press briefing at the ministry.He said the Bangladesh Labour (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025 was gazetted on 17 November, bringing several landmark reforms including the right of domestic and agricultural workers to form organisations, 120 days of maternity leave, a ban on blacklisting, allowing trade union registration with a minimum of 20 members, and mandatory provident funds. The Unemployed Workers Protection Programme (UWPP) Implementation Policy 2025 was also introduced.The government has declared customs ...

• 08 Dec 2025