Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus today said Bangladesh has made history by advancing workers’ legal rights, as the interim government ratified three conventions of the International Labour Organization (ILO).

Bangladesh today ratified three ILO conventions to improve worker safety, health, and protection against workplace violence and harassment.

Recalling the 2013 Rana Plaza disaster, the chief adviser said, “After the Rana Plaza tragedy, the then government agreed to do everything. But nothing happened as per their commitment. They kept saying ‘it is being done, it will be done’. But we said ‘no more it is being done, it will be done’ — we must do it.”

The CA’s press wing issued a press release after the ILO Convention signing ceremony was held at the State Guest House Jamuna.

“Since I took office as the chief adviser, labour rights were my first priority. I held meetings time and again and kept saying everywhere that this must be done. Signing this will benefit all of us,” he said.

“I was told I had to go to the next Geneva meeting. I tried to understand why no one had attended the past meetings,” Yunus added.

Labour and Employment as well as Shipping Adviser Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hussain signed the instruments of ratification on behalf of the government in presence of the chief adviser.

The three ratified conventions are: Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155); Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 2006 (No. 187); and Violence and Harassment Convention, 2019 (No. 190). Of these, Conventions 187 and 155 were declared as fundamental conventions by the ILO in 2022.

“We must keep our commitments. What the convention says, what rights it talks about, must be conveyed to everyone,” the chief adviser said.

Terming the day as a memorable one in the history of labour rights in Bangladesh, he said, “From the tragedy of Rana Plaza to today’s signing, we have reached a milestone.”

“Our efforts will bear fruit if we ensure full and sincere implementation of it,” the chief adviser said.

Chief Adviser’s Special Envoy on International Affairs Lutfey Siddiqi, Secretary of the Chief Adviser’s Office Md Mahmudul Hossain Khan, Secretary of the Labour and Employment Ministry Md Sanwar Jahan Bhuiyan, ILO Country Director for Bangladesh Max Tunon and other senior officials were present at the ratification ceremony.

With this ratification, Bangladesh becomes the only country in South Asia to have ratified all 10 fundamental ILO conventions.