Ensure the workers' right to survival

Today is May 1, the International Workers’ Day, globally known as May Day. On this day in 1886, workers in Chicago, USA, sacrificed their lives demanding dignity of labour, fair wages, and an eight-hour workday. In honour of their sacrifice, countries across the world, including Bangladesh, observe this day as a symbol of the fight for workers’ rights. Every year, Bangladesh observes the day with due respect, declaring it a public holiday. The media runs special reports, and various events are held to discuss workers' issues. But what is the actual condition of workers in Bangladesh?

A recent survey revealed that approximately 1,000 workers die annually in Bangladesh due to workplace accidents, with the transport sector accounting for the highest number of fatalities. Financial hardship is also contributing to a rise in worker suicides. Labour unrest is increasing at an alarming rate. Many workers do not receive regular wages. Even before major festivals like Eid, many factory owners fail to pay salaries and bonuses on time. Workplace safety remains grossly inadequate, making it difficult to say that the lives of workers in Bangladesh are any more secure than before.

Wages remain extremely low in Bangladesh. According to a report by the International Labour Organization (ILO), Bangladesh ranks third in South Asia—after Sri Lanka and Bhutan—for paying the lowest wages to workers. From factory hands to agricultural and transport labourers, most workers in Bangladesh live in inhumane conditions. They struggle to provide proper education and healthcare for their children. At the root of these issues lies the deep economic inequality that persists in the country.

Moreover, previous governments did not take effective steps to safeguard the interests of workers. However, there is a glimmer of hope. The current interim government has formed a Labour Reform Commission tasked with proposing essential reforms to ensure labour rights and welfare. The commission has recommended making labour laws universal across all sectors and establishing a national minimum wage. It also proposed a fund to cover two months’ wages for workers in the export sector to help address labour unrest.

We urge the proper implementation of these recommendations. Let us work to reduce inequality in society. Let us ensure that every worker can live with dignity. On this International Workers’ Day, Views Bangladesh expresses its solidarity with oppressed workers across the world.