Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2011, published 101st ILC session (2012)

Tripartite Consultation (International Labour Standards) Convention, 1976 (No. 144) - Bangladesh (Ratification: 1979)

Tripartite consultations required by the Convention. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its report received in September 2011 in reply to its 2009 observation. The Government recalls that it has constituted the Tripartite Consultative Council (TCC) in conformity with the Convention. It further reports that the TCC is currently composed of 60 members having equal representation from employers’ organizations, workers’ organizations and government. The Labour and Employment Minister is the Chairman of the TCC. All issues related to labour including wages, employment conditions and child labour, as well as labour standards, are discussed in the TCC. Decisions are taken through consultation and actions are taken per agreement. The Committee notes that the Government has formulated the National Child Labour Elimination Policy, 2010, which was discussed in the TCC. It also notes that the Government has declared a minimum wage for the Ready Made Garments (RMG) sector following tripartite consultations. The Government indicates in its report that a tripartite committee has been formed to review the Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006. The next TCC meeting will discuss the revised Labour Act, once it is finalized. The Committee requests the Government to provide a report containing more detailed information on the effective consultations held by the Tripartite Consultative Council on the matters relating to international labour standards listed in Article 5(1) of the Convention. In this respect, the Committee hopes that the next report will include information on reports or recommendations made as a result of the consultations covered by the Convention.