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 services as essential services, raised the annual wage increment rate in the garment sector from 5% to 9%, revised minimum wages for seven industries, and is processing the inclusion of 21 more sectors under the revised structure.

Sakhawat said the government facilitated Tk 575 crore in loan support for Beximco Group to pay dues of 31,669 workers and officials, while Tk 31.67 crore was paid to 17,134 workers of Nasa Group. Steps have been taken to issue Interpol red notices against owners who fled abroad without paying workers’ dues.

During the year, 347 new trade unions were registered, 44 political cases involving 48,000 workers were withdrawn, 3,453 children were removed from labour, and 11,691 inspections were conducted, leading to 16 cases being filed.

In the garment sector, 347 childcare centres were set up and 1,270 female workers received Tk 32.65 crore in maternity benefits. The Central Fund and Worker Welfare Foundation provided more than Tk 80 crore in medical, death and education assistance to 22,948 workers and families. Under an EU-funded programme, 1,755 unemployed workers received Tk 1.57 crore, while the Employment Injury Scheme disbursed Tk 1.04 crore to 81 workers.

Sakhawat said Bangladesh has now formally ratified ILO Conventions 155, 187 and 190, becoming the only South Asian country to ratify all 10 fundamental ILO conventions.

Bangladesh has also been elected coordinator of the Asia-Pacific Group (ASPAG) of 45 countries, and signed an MoU with South Korea on employment injury insurance cooperation.

The government has launched the National Occupational Safety and Health, Research and Training Institute (NOSHTRI) in Rajshahi, established a new Labour Court in Mymensingh, and disposed of 13,013 cases in labour courts. A total of 9,302 new licences and 35,012 renewals generated Tk 9 crore in revenue. The process of forming a dedicated Directorate of Employment is underway, while 435 jobseekers secured employment through job fairs.

“These achievements are the outcome of collective efforts by workers, employers and the government, laying the foundation for a modern, safe and internationally compliant labour sector in Bangladesh,” Sakhawat said, adding that the progress will continue to strengthen workers’ rights, industrial stability and the country’s economic development.