Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2001, published 90th ILC session (2002)

Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87) - Bangladesh (Ratification: 1972)

The Committee takes note of the Government’s report.

The Committee recalls that sections 11A(1) and (2) and 11B of the Industrial Relations Ordinance (IRO), 1969, deny the rights of unregistered unions to function and to collect funds as well as the right of workers to belong to more than one trade union at a time.

Concerning the first issue raised by section 11A(1) and (2) of the IRO, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that such restrictions are aimed to prevent trade union multiplicity and ensure protection of public money. While noting the Government’s indication that some flexibility must be ensured in order to permit newly formed organizations to collect membership dues necessary to their registration by virtue of section 6, the Committee considers that these provisions may seriously hinder the creation of new organizations. Therefore, the Committee requests the Government to take the necessary measures to amend its legislation in order to ensure that such flexibility will not be applied in an arbitrary fashion and so as to ensure full conformity with the Convention.

Concerning the second issue regarding section 11B of the IRO, the Committee notes with regret that no progress has been made in that respect. The Committee requests the Government to indicate the measures taken or envisaged to ensure that workers, who may be working in more than one job, may organize to defend their interests in their respective occupations.