The Labour Reform Commission has gathered nearly a dozen key aspirations from over 50 consultation meetings, including demands for worker recognition, the development of a workers’ database, and the introduction of a registration system.

The commission, established by the interim government on November 18, has been tasked with recommending necessary reforms to ensure workers’ rights and welfare within a 90-day timeframe ending in February.

It is understood that the most common aspirations drawn from the consultations include addressing inequality and discrimination in the workplace, ensuring adequate protection for informal sector workers and establishing a national minimum wage along with wage-setting parameters.

The consultations are also said to have proposed measures to enhance social protection, such as providing insurance and pension facilities for workers, fostering a free and safe environment for trade union formation and activities and promoting effective social dialogue.

Mostafizur Rahman, an associate professor at Jagannath University, revealed the common aspirations during a meeting held on Wednesday at Srama Bhaban in the city, presided over by the Commission head Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed.

He highlighted additional common demands, which included enhancing the institutional efficiency, transparency, and accountability of entities such as the Department of Labour (DoL), the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE), and labour courts.

The participants were reported to have emphasised the need for an effective system to resolve disputes and grievances, measures to address cultural and social norms, improvements in workers’ skills and productivity and ensuring a fair distribution of benefits.

He also said that eliminating barriers to sustainable business and inclusive development was among the other significant demands raised during the consultations.

According to commission sources, more than 50 consultations have already been conducted with various trade unions and rights organisations representing both formal and informal sectors.

These include workers from the readymade garment industry, domestic work, sanitation, city corporation sweepers, outsourcing, medical representatives, ride-sharing, light transportation, and beauty parlours.

Discussions have also involved institutions such as the Department of Labour (DoL), the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE), human, labour, and women’s rights organisations, as well as development partners like the ILO and the European Union, and multinational companies through their respective workers’ organisations.

Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed, head of the commission, said that the commission has been working tirelessly to submit its recommendations by the February 18 deadline.

He said that the commission has already engaged in discussions with representatives from approximately 200 organisations and institutions.

‘The discrimination and deprivation revealed during the consultation meetings cannot be addressed without a comprehensive transformation of the labour sector,’ Sultan said.

He added that the commission is striving to frame its recommendations with these transformational aspects in mind.

Earlier, on January 12, the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) made several recommendations for short-, medium-, and long-term implementation, including the establishment of a national minimum wage for all workers, incorporating children’s education into the wage structure, and introducing a wage-guarantee insurance scheme.

On wage-related issues, the CPD proposed adopting a transparent and democratic process for selecting employers’ and workers’ representatives on the wage board, implementing a mandatory alternative dispute resolution mechanism, and significantly increasing penalties for failing to pay the minimum wage.

Other proposals included declaring the current calendar year as the ‘Labour Reform Year’ to expedite the reform process.

On December 29, Oxfam in Bangladesh put forward its own proposals, highlighting the need to address the challenges faced by marginalised workers in informal sectors, particularly domestic workers, home-based garment workers and tea plantation workers.