Some labour rights ignored in new law: govt official

Labour Secretary Mikail Shipar yesterday admitted that the government had to ignore interests of workers to some extent in favour of the industry in the new labour law.
“There was tremendous time-bound international pressure for the amendment to the law,” Shipar said, adding that even a session of parliament had to be postponed to pass the recently amended law by the deadline.

Shipar spoke at a meeting of Tripartite Consultative Committee (TCC) on labour affairs.
Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan, who was present at the meeting, equally regretted the haste in passing the labour law.
He said the law was passed despite many issues left unresolved in the previous TCC meeting.
These remarks instantly drew flak from the labour leaders present at the meeting held at the BIAM auditorium.
The TCC meeting was presided over by Labour Minister Rajiuddin Ahmed Raju.
“Workers are an integral part of the industries.” said Wajed-ul Islam Khan, general secretary of Bangladesh Trade Union Council (BTUC).
“The workers were surprised to see the amendments made to the law,” he said, add-ing that the recommendations of the labour representatives were not incorporated in it.