The BSPAN Human Rights Day Training Session highlighted the intersection of human rights and occupational safety, emphasizing the right of workers to a safe and healthy workplace. Held on December 10th, the event brought together 25 participants (13 female, 12 male) from partner organizations to discuss strengthening social protection, labor rights, and BSPAN’s advocacy efforts.
The session featured key speakers addressing various labor issues. Saki Rezwana (OSHE Foundation) outlined BSPAN’s journey, while Tahsin Tabassum (OSHE Foundation) emphasized the neglect of workers in both formal and informal sectors. Alom Hossain (OSHE Foundation) stressed the importance of international labor standards, particularly those outlined by the ILO. Nargis Jahan (BJSD) called for workplace safety monitoring and stronger trade unions, while Feroz Hossain (Sramik League) highlighted the need for trade union reforms and better leadership. Tapan Saha (TGWF) focused on gender disparities, particularly the lack of maternity leave for women in the garment sector. Promila Podder (JSL) advocated for rallies to raise awareness about informal workers’ challenges, and A.B. Siddiq Mintu (BNSL) highlighted the absence of trade unions and databases for construction workers. Pulak Ranjan Dhar (BFTUC) brought attention to the vulnerabilities of migrant and domestic workers.
The session resulted in key demands, including aligning labor laws with international standards, implementing ILO conventions (C190 on violence, C183 on maternity leave, and C102 on social security), establishing a Monitoring Board for workplace safety, strengthening trade unions, raising worker awareness, and developing housing and unemployment support for vulnerable workers. The discussions underscored the urgency of collaborative efforts to protect labor rights and ensure a just and secure working environment in Bangladesh.
