Bangladesh to Enforce Stricter Child Labour Laws by November

Labour Law Amendments Set for November

Bangladesh will amend its labour law by November 2025, introducing significantly higher penalties for child labour, Labour and Employment Adviser Brigadier General (Retd) M Sakhawat Hossain announced on June 18. The government aims to finalise the amendments within the next two to three months.

Currently, around 3.5 million children in Bangladesh are classified as child labourers under existing definitions. Of these, roughly one million work in hazardous conditions. The amendments seek not only to reduce these numbers but also to reconsider how child labour is legally defined.

Challenges from Cultural and Practical Realities

Enforcement of child labour laws faces cultural and practical challenges. Many children work informally, such as helping parents fish or serving as apprentices. Some manage to attend school while also assisting in family trades. These complexities make enforcement difficult.

The adviser highlighted that forcing children into labour is illegal and punishable. However, voluntary participation in light work outside school hours may be treated differently under the new rules.

Alignment with International Labour Organization Standards

Bangladesh’s labour law reforms align with recommendations from the International Labour Organization (ILO). Although there have been no recent formal discussions, the government remains engaged with the ILO and has prepared drafts that propose increased financial penalties for child labour violations.

At the recent 11th ILO Conference in Switzerland, government officials joined worker and employer representatives to push for labour law reforms beneficial to workers. Adviser Sakhawat described this unified position as Bangladesh’s most significant achievement at the event.

He also reported positive feedback from senior ILO officials regarding Bangladesh’s progress and expressed the need to complete reforms before the next formal engagement with the ILO.

Additionally, Bangladesh has taken on the role of coordinator for the Asia-Pacific Group (ASPAG) within the ILO for the first time.

National Efforts to Eliminate Child Labour

On May 18, Sakhawat spoke at a workshop in Srimangal on eliminating child labour. He stressed the need for a coordinated approach across government ministries to tackle the issue, which remains a major challenge in the country.

He noted many children are deprived of education because they work in labour-intensive sectors like farming, fishing, and brick kilns. Often, children enter the workforce to reduce family financial burdens, which negatively impacts their health and education.

The National Child Labour Welfare Council (NCWC) has been working since 2014 to protect children’s rights and promote their welfare. Alongside government efforts, various private agencies run projects focused on children’s education and rehabilitation.

Local steering committees at the upazila, district, and divisional levels also support these efforts. The labour ministry implements programmes that include rehabilitation, social safety nets, and awareness campaigns to reduce child labour.

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