ILO praises Bangladesh’s labour reforms, new milestones

The International Labour Organization (ILO) has praised Bangladesh for undertaking wide-ranging labour reforms, citing significant progress in strengthening workers’ rights and standards.

In a letter dated December 17, 2025, ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo commended the government for clearly outlining recent reform measures, as conveyed by the Chief Adviser’s Special Envoy, Lutfey Siddiqi.

“I would like to commend the efforts of the Government of Bangladesh in undertaking a wide range of labour reforms,” Houngbo wrote, highlighting in particular the measures introduced through the Bangladesh Labour (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025.

The appreciation followed an update sent on November 21, 2025, detailing steps taken to advance freedom of association, collective bargaining, social dialogue and improved working conditions. Siddiqi noted that, acting on the clear instructions of Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, the reform agenda marked a decisive break from delays of the past.

Houngbo also described Bangladesh’s recent ratification of additional international conventions on occupational safety and health, as well as on violence and harassment, as “another historic milestone”.

The instruments of ratification were deposited in Geneva on November 20, 2025, by Labour Adviser Brigadier General (retd) M Sakhawat Hussain, according to the Chief Adviser’s press wing.

Summing up the progress, Siddiqi said the combined measures would “irreversibly take the country’s labour standards to a much higher plane”, stressing the importance of both outcomes and the reform processes themselves.

The ILO director-general concluded by thanking Bangladesh for placing its trust in the organization to support the government, workers and employers through continued technical assistance during the reform process.