In a move to strengthen labour governance, the government has announced plans to amend the Bangladesh Labour Act by July, incorporating key recommendations from the Labour Reform Commission.

At a validation workshop on the labour inspection assessment — jointly organised by the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) — labour ministry secretary AHM Shafiquzzaman on Wednesday outlined key reforms, including the digitisation of the labour inspection system and the introduction of real-time monitoring.

The event was held to present and validate the findings and recommendations from a comprehensive assessment of Bangladesh’s labour inspection mechanisms.

‘We have planned to amend the Bangladesh Labour Act by July. In doing so, we will aim to incorporate the recommendations proposed by the Labour Reform Commission,’ labour secretary said.

He outlined the ministry’s reform agenda, noting that labour inspection activities would be brought under an effective monitoring framework.

Shafiquzzaman said that the key services and activities of DIFE and the Department of Labour would be fully digitised, enabling real-time monitoring by the highest authorities of DIFE and labour ministry.

‘The transformative role of data and technology in labour governance will allow for timely and need-based interventions through enhanced research and workplace data analysis,’ he said.

Labour seretary also highlighted the need for institutional strengthening, including the expansion of the organogram to allow for the recruitment of new inspectors and the creation of more promotion opportunities for existing officials.

DIFE inspector general Omar Md Imrul Mohsin reaffirmed the department’s commitment to modernisation, stressing that the collaborative efforts of MoLE, DIFE, and the ILO are crucial for ensuring sustained and effective labour inspections.

ILO Bangladesh Country Director Tuomo Poutiainen emphasised the importance of continuous evaluation and evidence-based approaches.

‘To ensure effective labour inspection, it is vital to continuously evaluate where we stand and identify the key challenges facing the labour inspectorate,’ he said, underlining the need for strategic data use to prioritise actions, especially in a context of limited resources.

Earlier in the programme, DIFE joint inspector general Md Matiur Rahaman highlighted the importance of identifying existing gaps in the current inspection system and addressing them with effective solutions to ensure the system truly serves the welfare of working people.