About Us

BACKGROUND

Informal sector are those productions and services sector which are mainly labour oriented, small capital and traditional technology depended, and fully private initiated. In this sector, neither of the labour laws especially factory act, worker recruitment policy, wages policy, compensation policy, and Industrial relations policy is implemented. It is estimated that around 75 to 80 percent of active populations in Bangladesh are involved in informal sector, and most of them are engaged in rural agricultural sector. And those who are working in informal sector in the city are mainly involved in different works including building construction, bricks and stones breaking, hawker, domestic work, rickshaw pulling, work at restaurant, and small grocery shop. Workers, in this sector, are living in very poor condition with various limitations including lack of capital, skills, education and technology.

As there is no specific law and policy in order to protect their rights, they are victimized of repressions, deprivations, and inequities in workplace. In addition, even though formal sector workers have legal protection, they are also experiencing deprivation from equal rights. Considering formal and informal sector worker problems, and to fulfill the demand of a national platform in order to way forward from these problems and protect their rights, Bangladesh Labour Rights Forum was formed, and has been started formal journey, in collaboration with 16 organizations involving in this sector on 9 June 2012. At present 31 member organizations engage with this forum. One of the main objectives of this forum is to create dynamic and active social movement by organizing and connecting all organizations, particularly which are working on labour rights, in order to protect and promote formal and informal sector workers’ interests and rights.

MEMBERS ORGANIZATIONS​​

  1.     Association for Youth Advancement (AYA)
  2.     Awaj Foundation
  3.     Bangladesh Bhumihin Somity
  4.     Bangladesh Garments Dorjee Shromik Federation
  5.     Bangladesh Garments Textile Shromik Federation
  6.     Bangladesh Garments O Shilpo Shromik Federation
  7.     Bangladesh Hawkers Federation
  8.     Bangladesh Krishok Federation
  9.     Bangladesh Muktir Shogram Garments Shromik Federation
  10.     Bhasoman Nari Shromik Unnyon Kendro
  11.     Bangladesh Shasthoseba Kormi Shangho
  12.     Bastuhara Somaj Kollyan Somity
  13.     Dhaka Mohanagar CNG Auto Rickshaw O Mishuk Shromik Union
  14.     Dhaka Mohanagar Taxi Cab Chalok Union
  15.     Dalit Women’s Forum
  16.     Dhaka Zilla Auto Rickshaw- Auto Tempo Mishuk Janbahon Shromik Union
  17.     Garments Dorjee Shromik Kendro
  18.     Imarot Nirman Shromik Union
  19.     Labour Resource Centre
  20.     Mukto Shishu O Nari Shromik Federation
  21.     Nature Campaign Bangladesh
  22.     National Domestic Women Workers Union
  23.     National Garments Workers Welfare Federation
  24.     Nagorik Uddyog
  25.     Partnership of Women in Action (PaWA)
  26.     Readymade Garments Workers Federation
  27.     Rickshaw Shromik Federation
  28.     Sommilito Garments Shromik Federation
  29.     Trinomul Nari Uddyakta Society
  30.     Textile Garments Workers Federation
  31.     United Labour Federation (ULF)

ONGOING PROGRAMME​

  1. Advocacy for proposed “Unorganized Workers’ Welfare and Social Security (Informal Sector) Bill 2013” for informal sector workers;
  2. Advocacy and campaign for adoptions of domestic workers’ Security and Welfare policy;
  3. Programme for informal sector workers’ capacity building;
  4. Campaign for affiliating informal sector workers in Social Safety Net Programme;
  5. Campaign for acknowledging informal sector workers’ contribution in economy;
  6. Campaign for fixing minimum wages in agriculture sector workers;
  7. Campaign for ensuring building construction workers safety and security in workplace;
  8. Campaign for Hawkers’ rights and policy formulation;
  9. Campaign for killed and injured workers’ compensation in Rana Plaza, and injured workers’ security and social rehabilitation;
  10. Campaign on informal sector by producing different issue based publications such as research books, articles, posters, and leaflets etc.

SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES​

  1. Organized a human chain demanding rapid ratification of ILO Convention 189 and initiating right action for policy formulation and its implementation for domestic workers on occasion of ‘International Day of Domestic Workers 2012’ on 16 June 2012 in front of National Press Club, Dhaka;
  2. Organized a protest rally demanding ‘Justice for tortured-murdered domestic workers and protecting their rights’ on 8 September 2012 at National Press Club, Dhaka;
  3. Organized a seminar on ‘Urban Poor, Informal Sector and Labour Law’ on 15 October 2012 at VIP Lounge, National Press Club, Dhaka;
  4. Organized a workshop on ‘Human Rights and Right to Information’ from 8 to 9 January 2013 at Conference Room, Nagorik Uddyog, Lalmatia, Dhaka.
  5. Organized a National Conferrence 2013 on ‘Workers Rights: Way Forward from Discriminations and Inequalities: Guaranty for Works, Wages and Security’ from 25 to 26 January 2013 at National Shahid Miner and Planning and Development Academy, Nilket, Dhaka.
  6. Organized a seminar on ‘Present Situation of Domestic workers in Bangladesh and Policy Initiative Protecting their Rights’ on 28 December 2013 at Dhaka Reporter Unity, Dhaka;
  7. Organized a protest gathering programme on ‘Demanding Equal Rights and Equal Payment for Women Workers’ on 8 March 2014 in front of National Press Club, Dhaka;
  8. Organized a human chain on occasion of ‘International Day of Domestic Workers 2014’ on 16 June at National Press Club, Dhaka;
  9. Organized an experience sharing workshop with Mr. Chetan Chandra, a human rights activist who is working for domestic workers rights in India, on 24 March at Conference Room, Nagorik Uddyog, Lalmatia, Dhaka-1207;