This Star file photo shows workers are entering the Karnaphuli Export Processing Zone (KEPZ) in Chittagong.

The government today approved in principle draft of a labour law for export processing zones incorporating the provision to allow workers to form welfare organisations to bargain for their rights.

The approval for 'Bangladesh EPZ Labour Act-2014' draft came at a regular meeting of cabinet held at Secretariat with Prime Minister Shiekh Hasina in the chair.

The name of such committees will be 'Workers Welfare Associations', Cabinet Secretary M Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan told reporters after the meeting today.

A special committee formed by the Prime Minister's Office prepared the draft after discussing with the owners, workers and other stakeholders in EPZs.

The workers will elect the leaders of the committees through an election every year, he added.

There are 16 chapters in the draft law, according to Bangla daily Prothom Alo.

Worker recruitment, conditions of job, facilities during maternity period, work place environment, work hours, wages, labour court formation have been incorporated in the draft, it added.