As

signment On
“ILO in Bangladesh
Structure”
HRM -413
(section-1)

Submitted To:
Dr. RumanaAfroze
PhD (DU), MBA (DU), BBA (DU)
Associate Professor
Department of Business Administration,
East West University

Submission date: 19/5/2025

Chapter 1: ILO history

Introduction to the ILO:

The International Labour Organization (ILO), established in 1919, is a United Nations agency
that promotes social justice and internationally recognized labor rights. It sets labor standards
and develops policies to ensure decent work conditions worldwide.
Bangladesh and the ILO:

Historical Context

Bangladesh became a member of the ILO on June 22, 1972, shortly after gaining independence
in 1971. The country’s early engagement with the ILO was driven by the need to rebuild its
economy, ensure worker rights, and develop labor legislation to protect its growing workforce.

Key Milestones:

 1972: Bangladesh joins the ILO.

 Ratification of Fundamental Conventions: Since joining, Bangladesh has ratified 8 core
ILO conventions, including:

 Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise (C87)

 Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining (C98)
 Abolition of Forced Labour (C105)
 Elimination of Child Labour (C138 and C182)
 Equal Remuneration (C100)
 Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) (C111)
 1990s: The ILO became active in improving labour rights in Bangladesh’s booming
garments industry.
 2013 Rana Plaza Collapse: This tragic event drew global attention, prompting enhanced
collaboration between Bangladesh and the ILO to improve building safety, labour
inspection, and worker rights.

ILO Programs in Bangladesh:

The ILO Country Office for Bangladesh provides technical assistance and supports labor reform
projects. Key projects include Better Work Bangladesh (BWB), Bangladesh Skills for
Employment and Productivity (B-SEP), and initiatives under the ILO Decent Work Country
Programme.
Achievements:

 Establishment of labour courts and reforms in labour law

 Improved workplace safety inspections and training
 Promotion of women’s employment and skill development

Challenges:

 Enforcement of labour laws, especially in the informal sector

 Continued issues with child labour and minimum wage enforcement
 Need for stronger trade union freedom and collective bargaining.

Chapter 2: ILO Structure

Structure of the International Labour Organisation (ILO):

The International Labour Organisation (ILO)is a specialised agency of the United Nations that
brings together governments, employers, and workers from 187 member states. Its unique
structure ensures that all voices in the world of work are heard, working together to promote
decent work and fair labour practices globally.

1. Tripartite Constituency – A Seat at the Table for All:

The ILO is the only UN agency with a tripartite structure, meaning it includes:

* Government representatives

* Employers' organisations

* Workers' organisations

Why It Matters:

* Labour standards and policies are developed through open dialogue.

* Decisions reflect the needs of all three social partners: those who make the laws, those who run
businesses, and those who perform the work.

In Action:

When creating Conventions or Recommendations, all three groups participate equally in shaping
the outcome, showcasing real-time social dialogue.

2. International Labour Office – The Engine Room:

The International Labour Office serves as the ILO’s headquarters and secretariat, carrying out its
daily work and implementing decisions.

What It Does:

* Prepares research, reports, and technical materials.

* Provides technical assistance to member countries.

* Monitors compliance with international labour standards.

Where It Works:

* Operates through regional and country offices in over 40 countries, working closely with
national partners.

Leadership:

* Directed by the Director-General, who ensures effective execution of ILO goals.

3. Director-General – The Face and Force Behind the ILO:

The Director-General is the chief executive officer of the ILO, elected by the Governing Body
every five years.

Key Roles:

* Oversees global operations of the ILO.

* Represents the ILO at international forums and summits.

* Leads initiatives such as the Decent Work Agenda, promoting employment, rights at work,
social protection, and social dialogue.

> The Director-General is not just a manager—they're a global advocate for labour rights.

4. Governing Body – The Decision Makers:

Often compared to a parliament, the Governing Body sets the direction of the ILO.

Composition (56 Titular Members):

* 28 Government Representatives

* 14 Employers' Representatives

* 14 Workers' Representatives

What It Does:

* Defines the ILO’s strategic policies.

* Approves the budget and work programme.

* Elects the Director-General.

Meeting Frequency:

* Three times a year in Geneva, Switzerland.

5. ILO Administrative Tribunal – Justice for International Workers:

The ILO Administrative Tribunal is a legal body for resolving employment disputes involving
international civil servants.

Why It Exists:

* Employees of international organisations don’t fall under national labour laws.

* The tribunal ensures fair and impartial justice for staff from over 60 international
organisations.

Example:

* A former ILO employee dismissed unfairly can appeal to the tribunal for a legal review and
possible reinstatement or compensation.

6. ILO Centres and Institutes – Learning and Innovation Hubs:

To build capacity and spread knowledge, the ILO operates training and research centres.

What They Do:

* Offer training for:

* Labour ministry officials

* Employers' organisations

* Trade unions

* Conduct research on:

* Employment trends

* Wages and social protection

* Workers' rights

Chapter 3: ILO activities in Bangladesh

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) is a specialised agency of the United Nations that
advances social justice and internationally recognised human and labour rights. It has actively
assisted Bangladesh in raising labour standards, employment conditions, and workers' rights
since the latter's joining the ILO in 1972.
Key Activities of the ILO in Bangladesh:

1. Promotion of Labour Rights and Standards:

Following the ILO model, the Government of Bangladesh is assisted in ratifying and
implementing core international labour standards. The ILO has intervened in reforming national
labour laws so that they conform to international labour standards, i.e., the Bangladesh Labour
Act. The ILO promotes freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining.

2. Improving Workplace Safety (Post-Rana Plaza Respond):

In response to the Rana Plaza collapse in 2013, the ILO started a project on "Improving Working
Conditions in the Ready-Made Garment Sector." The program's core areas revolved around
building safety assessments, labour inspections, fire safety, and training. A total of 3,500+
factories were evaluated for structural, fire, and electrical safety.

3. Skills Training and Employment:

Through Skills 21 and Better Work Bangladesh, the ILO supports the development of TVET
systems. These programmes are designed to increase the employability of young people and to
align their skills with market requirements. The ILO promotes inclusive employment
opportunities for vulnerable groups, including women and persons with disabilities.

4. Eradicating Child Labour and Forced Labour:

The ILO has long striven to bring child labour to an end, especially in hazardous sectors. In
collaboration with governments, it attempts to strengthen national policies and enforcement
aimed at ending forced labour and trafficking.

5. Social Dialogue and Labour Governance:

Social dialogue is an activity that promotes government, employers, and workers to work
together for better labour relations. It supports institutions like the Department of Labour and the
Institute of Industrial Relations. Capacity-building programmes are held periodically for trade
unions, employers' organisations, and labour inspectors.
6. Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic:

During the pandemic, the ILO extended technical and financial assistance to protect workers and
businesses. Activities centred on the promotion of occupational safety and health (OSH), income
protection, and economic recovery advice.

Achievements and Impact:

 Strengthened the legal framework of labour rights and safety.

 Created awareness and helped reduce the instances of child labour.
 Working conditions in factories and the garment industry improved.
 Develop skills, development and youth employment opportunities.

The ILO, through its promotion of decent work, improvement in labour conditions, and
strengthening of social protection, thereby helps Bangladesh in its socio-economic development.
Associated work needs to continue between the ILO, the Government, Employers, and Workers
if the country is to achieve sustainable and inclusive growth.

Chapter 4: ILO convention ( labour law)

Work That Cares: Labour Rights, the ILO, and the Lives of Workers in Bangladesh.

Work is not just a way to survive — it’s a way to live. It brings food to the table, keeps children
in school, pays rent, and helps people hold on to dignity. For the people who wake before sunrise
to open shops, sew clothes, carry bricks, or sweep factory floors — work is life. And life
deserves respect.

This simple truth is what the International Labour Organization (ILO) has stood for since the
beginning. It believes no one should be harmed, ignored, or mistreated just for doing a job.

What the ILO Offers the World

To protect workers everywhere, the ILO creates Conventions and Recommendations — shared
understandings of what fairness at work should look like.

● 190 Conventions have been adopted — these are global agreements about things that
should never be negotiable: no child should work in dangerous conditions, no worker should be
forced into labour, no one should face discrimination for who they are.

● 206 Recommendations help fill in the gaps, offering advice on how to make these rights
real in practice.

These are not just policies — they’re promises. Promises that the hands that build our homes,
stitch our clothes, and harvest our food deserve care and protection.

Bangladesh’s Step Toward Justice

Since joining the ILO in 1972, Bangladesh has taken real steps to protect its workers. It has
ratified 36 Conventions, including every single one of the 8 Fundamental Conventions — the
most important ones that speak directly to human dignity.

These include rights to:

● Work without fear

● Join together with others to speak up

● Be treated equally
● Say “no” to forced or child labour

Bangladesh has also adopted:

● 4 Governance Conventions, to support better labour management

● 24 Technical Conventions, which deal with safety, hours, social security, and the small but
vital parts of everyday working life

Labour Law: Putting Protection into Practice

To give these promises real meaning, Bangladesh created its law — the Bangladesh Labour
Act of 2006, updated over the years to do better. It’s more than a rulebook. It’s a statement that
people matter.

This law says:

● Workplaces must be safe

● Workers must have rest and leave

● Women must be protected, not punished, for motherhood

● Children belong in schools, not in sweatshops

● Workers have the right to organize, speak, and be treated fairly

It’s a reminder that even in hard times, fairness cannot be forgotten.

Still, There’s a Long Way to Go

Even with these laws, many workers still suffer in silence. Garment workers often face unsafe
factories. Construction workers go without helmets. Domestic workers are overworked and
invisible. Children still carry loads heavier than their bodies. Not because the law allows it, but
because the system often fails to stop it.
Inspections are rare. Rights are not explained. And even when they are, fear often wins.
Speaking up can mean losing everything.

These are not just problems on paper — they are real lives, real losses.

A Future That Feels Fair

But change is possible. Bangladesh has shown that it wants to do better, and it can.

It starts with simple things: honest inspections, fair employers, informed workers. It grows when
the laws are not only written, but lived. When a cleaner, a tailor, or a tea picker knows that
someone is standing up for them, not with speeches, but with action.

When work is safe, paid fairly, and treated with respect, families grow stronger, children dream
bigger, and hope becomes more than survival.

Every worker is a person first. And every person deserves to be safe, seen, and supported — not
just in words, but in the way they live and work every day.

Referances

 International Labour Organization (ILO). (n.d.). NORMLEX: Information System on

International Labour Standards. Retrieved from: [Link]
 International Labour Organization (ILO). (2024). Ratifications for Bangladesh.
Retrieved from: [Link]
p=NORMLEXPUB:11200:0::NO::P11200_COUNTRY_ID:103500

 ILO (n.d.). Conventions and Recommendations. Retrieved from:

[Link]
conventions-and-recommendations/lang--en/[Link]

 Ministry of Labour and Employment, Bangladesh (2023). Annual Labour Repo