Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2025, published 114th ILC session (2026)

Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81) - Bangladesh (Ratification: 1972)

Articles 2, 3(1)(a) and (b), 5, 13, 17 and 18 of the Convention. Inspection activities to improve occupational safety and health (OSH) standards in the Ready-Made Garment (RMG) sector. Following its previous comments on the framework of coordinated monitoring of building safety in the RMG sector, the Committee notes the information provided by the Government on the bilateral meetings and reports shared between the DIFE and the RMG Sustainability Council (RSC) and observes that the last coordination meeting took place in December 2024. The Government also refers to a joint inspection of a factory in January 2025, leading to findings of non-compliance and the placement of the factory under the RSC’s monitoring. The Committee also notes that, while the RSC shares monthly and quarterly reports with the Government Coordination Council (GCC) since September 2023, according to the Government, the most recent meeting of the GCC took place in December 2024. Regarding coordination between the RSC and trade unions and safety committees, the Committee notes the information provided by the Government, including its statement that the RSC continues to provide training for factory safety committees, with 1,741 safety committees enrolled in the OSH training programme as of May 2025. The Government indicates that between 2014 and May 2025, a total of 3,570 OSH complaints and 7,839 non-OSH complaints were lodged.

Regarding the Industrial Safety Unit (ISU) and remediation activities under the National Initiative (NI), the Committee notes the Government’s indication that the ISU completed three special inspections in 2024–25 following accidents, providing recommendations regarding labour law violations, and continues to follow-up on factories, determining their category based on the level of remediation. Following its previous comments where it noted the categories of NI factories based on their remediation possibilities, the Committee notes that, according to the Government, a total of 245 factories received stage 3 escalation from the RSC, 71 of which are currently still in operation, while 112 are closed and 62 have been relocated. Observing that the last meeting of the GCC and the last coordination meeting of the RSC and the DIFE took place in December 2024, and that the Government only refers to one joint inspection in 2025, the Committee requests the Government to provide updated information on the plans for coordination and activities carried out to improve OSH in the RMG sector, including information on the impact of those activities. In addition, the Committee requests the Government to provide further information on the number of factories in the NI, the remediation activities of the ISU and the follow-up with NI factories. In addition, noting the powers of labour inspectors under section 61 and 85 of the BLA regarding situations of danger, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on the implementation in practice of those provisions.

Article 3(2). Additional functions entrusted to labour inspectors. Conciliation. Following its previous comments, the Committee notes with interest the insertion, through the 2025 amendment to the BLA, of a new section 318A in the BLA defining the functions of labour inspectors. The Committee notes that section 318A(1)(d) of the BLA provides that the functions of the labour inspection system can include such other functions as may be prescribed by rules from time to time by the Government, while section 318A(2) of the BLA provides that any other responsibilities assigned by the Government shall not conflict with or hinder the inspector’s core inspection duties, nor shall it compromise his jurisdiction and impartiality in discharging legal responsibilities towards employers and workers. The Committee also notes the Government’s indication that labour inspectors spend approximately 5 to 10 per cent of their time on conciliation on average and primarily focus on enforcement. The Government nevertheless indicates that in certain regions, during specific periods of the year, wage-related unrest can lead labour inspectors to temporarily shift inspectors’ focus to dispute resolution. The TU-ILS Committee, in its observations, allege that inspectors spend excessive time on wage dispute conciliation and that dispute outcomes vary across factors, with fairness and impartiality concerns. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that measures have been taken to ensure that labour inspectors’ conciliation duties do not compromise their neutrality. It notes that section 124A of the BLA concerning the role of labour inspectors in conciliation remains unamended. The Committee requests the Government to provide further information on those measures. With reference to its comments formulated under Articles 5(b) and 15(a) of the Convention, the Committee also requests the Government to provide further information on: (i) the application of section 318A of the BLA, including information on the rules prescribing other duties for labour inspectors; and (ii) whether the establishment of an alternative dispute resolution authority, under section 348C of the BLA, will reduce labour inspectors’ duties in the field of labour disputes.

Articles 9 and 14. Notification of industrial accidents and cases of occupational diseases. The Committee notes the Government’s indication, in response to the Committee’s previous request, that measures to increase the reporting rate of occupational accidents and diseases include the amendments to increase the amounts of fines set out in the BLA. In this respect, the Committee takes due note that the penalties for failure to give notice of occupational accidents and diseases, provided in section 290 of the BLA, was increased by the Bangladesh Labour Act (Amendment) Ordinance 2025. The Government also indicates that the DIFE has undertaken other initiatives such as increased focus on those matters during inspections and motivational meetings and consultations with factory owners, worker representatives, and safety committees to raise awareness and encourage compliance. The Government further indicates that between July 2024 and June 2025, a total of 1,389 accident notices were submitted through the LIMA system, representing a substantial improvement compared to 177 notices submitted in the previous year. The Committee also notes the indication of the TU-ILS Committee that non-compliance with section 290 of the BLA remains widespread. The Government nevertheless indicates that no criminal cases have been initiated under section 290 of the BLA between July 2024 and June 2025. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the number of occupational accidents and diseases reported and on the impact of the increased penalties for non-compliance with the duty to report. The Committee further requests that the Government continue to provide information on any criminal cases initiated under section 290 of the BLA, specifying the liable party.

Articles 20 and 21. Publication and communication of annual labour inspection reports necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of the labour inspection system. The Committee notes with interest the 2023–24 Annual Labour Inspection Report of the DIFE, communicated with the report of the Government. The Committee requests the Government to continue to publish and transmit copies of the annual labour inspection reports to the ILO, in accordance with Article 20, while ensuring that it contains information on all the subjects covered by Article 21 of the Convention.