1. Country Report -Bangladesh
Trade Union Organizing Strategies
for Development and Inclusion
23-27 May 2016
Seoul, Korea
Submitted by:
Siddiqa Mohol
Member, Executive Committee
Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal- BJSD

2. Country Status-Bangladesh
Currently in Bangladesh total economically active population/total labour force are :
60.7 million (Age 15 years and above) and among them-
18.2 million (30 percent) are female.
Out of total employed population (58.1 million) female are 16.8 million (29 percent).
Total unpaid population is 10.6 million, where female are 8.4 million..
(Source: Labour Force Survey 2013, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics)

3. Trade Unionism in Bangladesh
-Bangladesh TU history has a long story of struggle
-the TU movement started its journey in this region in around 1921
-It played a vital role in the fights against colonial oppressions both during British and Pakistani regime.
-it had an outstanding contribution in the war of liberation and all the democratic movements of the country.

4. Facts on Trade union Total Members of Basic Unions : 23,24,680
Total Basic Unions : 7279
Trade Union in Garments Sector : 245
National Trade Union Federations : 32
Total union under national federations : 1352
Total membership : 10,76,367
Workers organised with national federation membership : 2%

5. Structure of Trade Union
Three-tire distribution-
National Federation: Tripartite bodies of the country. it intervenes in national policy formulation and creates pressure in protecting the rights and interests of the working class people and the trade union activists as well. At present the country has 31 National Trade Union Federation.
Industrial Federation: Body of unions from the same industrial sector. It deals with common problems and demands of the sector wise workers. Basic unions within the sector are its members.
At present the country has a total of 84 Industrial Federations. 355 Basic unions are working under these federations.
Basic Union: This is the main union formed by the direct participation of the workers. Grass root level activists are the members of this workplace based unions. Elected body of industry of factory level unions works as Collective Bargaining Agent- CBA.

6. Consultation Mechanism in Bangladesh
Bipartite discussion:
Discussion between workers & employers with employment issue in centre. Here CB agent represents the workers.
Conciliation:
According to Bangladesh Labour Law-2006, the Labour Director or any other person as agreed by the parties may act as conciliator between two parties.
Arbitration:
Any Independent or the Labour Court Can be arbitrator
In addition, informal procedure of dispute resolution outside the court is also another effective and popular way.

7. Scope of Collective Bargaining
Bangladesh ratified ILO convention 87 & 98 and Labour Law has which Granted the Freedom of association and Collective Bargaining .
In principle of Labour Law, Bangladesh recognizes the right to Collective Bargaining of workers.
Private sector workers enjoy Collective Bargaining rights fully.
Workers of State-owned enterprise enjoy Collective Bargaining rights partially (esp. Wage and Allowance are not in included in CB).

8. Limitations of Collective Bargaining
Despite the recognition of Collective Bargaining
by Bangladesh Labour Law, there are huge
limitations:-
Workers of public sector do not have collective bargaining (esp. government employees)
Autonomous bodies and some govt. institution like telecom, railway can bargain but they are restrained from bargaining on wage.
Professional and Managerial staff are not included in the collective bargaining rights.

9. Cont.
Informal workers, domestic workers and home based workers excluded from the Labour Law protection are not covered by collective bargaining.
Restriction on strike on newly established enterprises also restricts the scope for collective bargaining.
Lengthy, conditional in the entire process of union registration and restriction in some areas in registration make collective bargaining difficult in national and industrial level.

10. Main Challenges of TU in Bangladesh (Trade Union Immediate Issues)
a. Updating of labour law to increase coverage (Only 20% of total workforce covered by the labour Law).
b. Enforcement of Law: presently structural weakness of informant, lack of logistic support of the inspection department, implementation of labour law is very weak.
c. Free & fair exercise of trade Union Rights
Normally there is a strong opposition by employer group towards formulation of Trade Union and Government role also supported to them.
d. Organization is the informal sectors workers
e. Inadequate wage
f. Improve Health and safety condition.
g. Unemployment

11. Important priorities for trade unions’ actions
Organise the informal sector
Capacity building of the unions including financial capacity
Face the adverse attitude and victimization
Update labour law in line with ILS and ensure proper enforcement
Ensure a fare national minimum wage
Campaign for Social Security
Eliminate discrimination and Organise women workers
Ensure workplace environment and occupational Health and safety .
Ensure DW for all
Campaign for Green Jobs and awareness on climate change.
Protect Migrant Workers

12. What to do to extent of unionization and strengthen Collective Bargaining?
Further amendment of Labour Law in line with ILO convention 87 & 98, so that all workers can enjoy Collective Bargaining.
Discourse settlement mechanism in conciliation and arbitration of system should be strengthened.
Trade Union capacity also needs to be strengthened.
Ensuring social security of workers.
Solidarity support in industrial action is necessary.

13. . Decent Work Country Program and the role of trade unions in the programme
Bangladesh Decent Work Country Programme was developed and has been implemented for the period of & ( ), focussing on four key outcomes:
Improving skills training and entrepreneurship for enhanced employability and livelihoods.
Improving coverage of social protection and rights for workers in selected sectors, including for migrants.
Combating child labour with priority focus on the
worst forms of child labour
Strengthening social dialogue.
The Bangladesh DWCP contributes to the achievement :
especially in the areas of Education and Pro-Poor Growth, Social protection, and
Gender Equality and Advancement of Women. Improving skills training and
entrepreneurship for enhanced employability And livelihoods.
All national centres of NCCWE was involve in Decent work programme.

14. Thank You !