International Labour Organization (ILO) has deferred its decision on further action against Bangladesh for failing to comply with three core conventions on freedom of association, collective bargaining and labour inspection, with a new deadline set for March 2026.

The ILO’s draft decision, available on its official website, urged the Bangladeshi government to fully commit to the timely implementation of its action roadmap across all priority areas.

During the 108th ILO session in June 2019, labour representatives from Italy, Japan, South Africa, Pakistan and Brazil called for an enquiry commission over Bangladesh’s alleged failure to uphold Convention 87 on freedom of association, Convention 98 on collective bargaining, and Convention 81 on labour inspection.

The complainants also proposed to form a commission of enquiry against Bangladesh for non-observance.

Taking note of the report on progress made in implementing the roadmap of actions to address all outstanding issues raised in the Article 26 complaint concerning the alleged non-observance of Conventions Nos. 81, 87, and 98, and mindful of the political changes that led to an interim government, the ILO Governing Body requested the government to report on further progress in the implementation of the roadmap at its 356th Session in March 2026.

‘…deferred the decision on further action in respect of the complaint to  that session,’ read the draft decesion.

The ILO Governing Body welcomed the measures taken by the government to advance the labour reform agenda.

However, it encouraged the government and social partners to engage in constructive tripartite consultations on labour law reform, prioritising necessary reforms with the technical assistance of the ILO and support from the secretariats of the Employers’ and Workers’ groups.

The draft decisions came after the ILO GB’s 353rd session held from March 10 to 20.

A Bangladeshi delegation led by labour adviser M Sakhawat Hossain now in Geneva and placed the progress report to the Body on Monday.

Under the leadership of the Chief Adviser, national consensus is being built on the reform of all sectors including the labor sector to achieve sustainable reforms, labour adviser said in a statement.

Sakhawat Hossain informed the session held on Monday that the current government has canceled most of the cases filed against the workers and trade union leaders for political purposes and ensured the representation of the real workers and owners in the tripartite committees in the democratic process.

In the ongoing labour law amendment process, he stated that a tripartite consensus had been reached on extending the law’s scope to non-profit organisations and expanding trade union rights for management, supervisory and administrative positions.

Additionally, the agreement includes a three-fold increase in punishment for unfair labour practices, anti-union discrimination, child labour and forced labour, along with measures addressing workplace discrimination and gender-based violence.

The National Tripartite Council also reached a tripartite consensus on the definition and prohibition of blacklisting workers, including provisions for its punishment.

He informed that there was consensus on increasing the number of registered unions in a factory from three to five.

However, he also said that consensus has not yet been reached on some issues, such as the minimum percentage or number of workers required for trade union registration, but assured that this will be addressed through tripartite discussions.

‘Through this, the government will soon issue an ordinance to amend the law,’ he said.

After the amendment of the Bangladesh Labour Act, the government will take necessary steps to address the differences between the existing EPZ Labour Act and the amended Bangladesh Labour Act, he added.

Citing the existing Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for factory inspections, he mentioned that fifty per cent of inspections are unannounced, and that vacancies for inspectors will soon be filled.