Developing and updating sector- and occupation-specific health and safety plans; re-evaluating compensation standards for workers killed, injured, or harmed in accidents or due to negligence; simultaneously, specifies dignified compensation criteria and amounts to ensure fair redress.

Year
2025
Reform Domain
Labour Labour
Sub Domain
Safe work, healthy working environment and workers' healthcare
Source of Reform Proposals
Labour Reform Commission Report
Reform Proposed
Reform Proposed
Reform Initiated
Reform Initiated
Legal and Policy Framework
Legal and Policy Framework
Operationalisation
Operationalisation
Action Implementation
Action Implementation
Stage of Implementation
Legal and Policy Framework
Legal and Policy Framework
Bangladesh Labour Ordinance updated Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) provisions, including right to say no for hazardous work, updating the list and compensation standard. Bangladesh has ratified to ILO Convention 155, 187, 190 on October, 2025
Observation
    OSH provisions address accident prevention and compensation. However, there is no mechanism for identifying work-related diseases like asbestos exposure. Visible injuries are easier to address, but testing for less obvious hazards will require investment in testing facilities and procedures.

    It is necessary to have political buy-in from the elected government to roll out the implementation of this proposal. Political parties may like to clearly articulate their position regarding this reform proposal in their respective election manifestos.

    The progress of this reform can be measured by generating and tracking data for the following indicators:

    1.     Number of occupational health and safety (OHS) committees established and functioning in workplaces

    2.     Frequency of workplace safety inspections and publication of inspection reports online

    3.     Annual number of reported occupational diseases, accidents, and compensation claims processed
Resources
Your Reviews

Related Reforms

The state will take appropriate measures to eliminate child labour, adolescent labour, and forced labour. Effective actions will be taken to close all forms of forced labour, including through advance bonding and other methods
Legal and Policy Framework
To ensure the right to protection from all forms of harassment and violence, including sexual harassment, the state will take special measures. In accordance with the 2009 High Court directive, all factories and institutions will be required to adopt policies against sexual harassment and violence. It is also essential to establish complaint cells and dispute resolution committees. The state will endorse ILO Convention 190.
Legal and Policy Framework
To establish a culture of dignified work environments, the state will stop the use of derogatory, power-centric language based on class, gender, race, and ethnicity. The term “women” will be replaced by “female” in the labour laws. The use of informal address such as “tui-tumi” in workplaces will be stopped. The use of Bangla will be promoted in all judicial bodies, from Labour Appeal Tribunals to the High Court and Appellate Division.
Legal and Policy Framework
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Glossary

Last Updated: 14th December 2025

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