Bangladesh allows welfare unions in special economic zones after factory building collapse

The Bangladeshi government has approved in principle the draft of a law for economic zones that includes the provision to allow workers to form welfare unions to bargain for their rights.

The approval for “Bangladesh EPZ Labour Act-2014” draft came at the regular cabinet meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair on Monday.

Cabinet Secretary M Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan told reporters that the draft has been made after consultation with all stakeholders in Export Processing Zones (EPZs) which accommodate 431 industrial units under operation while 134 are under implementation, reports Xinhua.