Trade unions are prohibited in Export Processing Zones (EPZs) in Bangladesh. EPZs are industrial zones with tax incentives for foreign investors. While unions are allowed in other private sectors, the EPZ authority BEPZA prohibits union activity in EPZs. Workers can only form Workers Welfare Associations which do not have the same collective bargaining powers as trade unions. The International Labor Organization has condemned Bangladesh for these restrictions on worker rights and freedoms in EPZs. Recent reforms now allow elections for trade unions in EPZs in response to pressure from the United States.

1. WELCOME TO OUR PRESENTATION

2. OUR TOPIC IS
Trade union in EPZ in Bangladesh

3. EPZ:
An Export Processing Zone (EPZ) is a Customs area where one is
allowed to import plant, machinery, equipment and material for
the manufacture of export goods under security, without payment
of duty. According to the International Labor Organization (ILO),
export processing zones (EPZs) are industrial zones with special
incentives set up to attract foreign investors.
SO WHAT IS EPZ AND WHAT IS TRADE
UNION?

4. TRADE UNION?
A trade union (or labor union) is an organization of workers who
have banded together to achieve common goals in key areas and
working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership,
bargains with the employer on behalf of union members (rank and
file members) and negotiates labor contracts (Collective
bargaining) with employers.

5. TRADE UNION IN EPZ
Trade union means workers unity group which
ensure workers or employer rights and bargaining
power and in Epz in trade union means the unity
of those worker or worker group who work for
the Epz that’s a same like general trade union

6. TRADE UNION IN EPZ IN BANGLADESH
Bangladesh EPZ authority doesn’t allow any union activity inside the
zone. But they don’t have any right of association, right for
collective bargaining, right to strike.

7. TRADE UNION PROHIBITED !
In Bangladesh there are around 6,300 registered unions and
1.9 millions union members. Almost 100% of
government organizations are unionized. But,
unionization in private organizations is not so popular in
Bangladesh. Dhaka Export Processing Zone (EPZ) is one
of them, where unions are not allowed. The authority of
Dhaka EPZ is Bangladesh Export Processing Zone
Authority (BEPZA) totally prohibited the union inside
the zone.

8. WORKERS WELFARE ASSOCIATION (WWA)
The Bangladesh Export Processing Zone (EPZ) Labor Act 2014
was prepared by a special committee formed by the Prime
Minister’s Office allowing “Workers’ Welfare Associations” and
not “Trade Union”, according to the Cabinet Secretary at the press
briefing following approval of the Act.

9. DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRADE UNION AND
WORKERS WELFARE ASSOCIATION
Trade Union – a term avoided all along – must be
registered with the Directorate of Labor under the
Ministry of Labor in order to be legally recognized as
Collective Bargaining Agent whereas the EPZ Workers’
Welfare Associations can be registered with the BEPZA
only. Thus, it remains an Association and not a Trade
Union, legally.

10. ILO CONDEMNED BANGLADESH
The International Labor Organization (ILO) condemned Bangladesh
for its continuing failure to provide full trade union freedoms and
for permitting serious violations of ILO Conventions both in law
and in practice.

11. ELECTIONS IN THE EPZS
At the start of 2008, 69 enterprises in Dhaka and Citation EPZs voted
to establish trade unions. Based on a decision of BEPZA, 124
more enterprises in the two EPZs will have to hold elections by
2010. According to our information, a number of Asian foreign
investors had publicly warned that allowing the formation of trade
unions in export processing zones would hold back further
investment in Bangladesh’s garment sector.

12. RECENT SITUATION OF TRADE UNIONS IN
EPZS:
government in principle has decided to allow
factory workers in EPZs to conduct trade union
activities from January 1, 2014, as part of its
measures to fulfill the conditions set by the
United States Trade Representative (USTR).

13. TRADE UNION IN EPZS GETS NOD
The cabinet finally gave the nod to the draft Bangladesh EPZ Labour Law 2016,
with provisions for forming legal trade unions in factories inside of the Export
Processing Zones (EPZ).
Allowing trade unions in factories was the last of the 16 conditions set by the US to
be fulfilled by the Bangladesh government for regaining the GSP (Generalized
System of Preferences) in the US market.
Bangladesh government has already submitted the progress report on the
implementation of 16 conditions to the United States Trade
Representative (USTR), the chief trade negotiation body for the US
government, for reinstatement of the GSP privilege.

14. EXPORT PROCESSING ZONES LABOR ACT
The GOB has proposed a new EPZ Labor Act. As with the BLA, the proposal
would still leave the law very far out of compliance with Conventions 87 and
98.
The GOB excuses some of these flaws on workers, claiming that they do not want
some of the rights to which they are entitled. However, this runs contrary to the
information obtained by NGOs through surveys of workers in the EPZs. Indeed,
we have serious doubts as to whether the alleged consultations were genuine
and based on informed discussions with WWA leaders on the legal options
available.

15. ILO COMMITTEE OF EXPERTS’ 2018 REPORT
CONFIRMS -NO REAL PROGRESS IN BANGLADESH
In February 2018, the ILO Committee of released its annual report on member
states’ compliance with ratified conventions. This includes 1much-anticipated
observations with regard to the Government of Bangladesh’s (GOB)
compliance with ILO Conventions 87 (freedom of association) and 98
(collective bargaining).
the Committee expressed its concern over serious violations of the conventions in
both law and in practice. As the report indicated, there has been no progress at
all on cases of anti-union violence.
for union registration and investigation of unfair labour practices have had no
meaningful impact
the majority of union registration applications are still denied.

16. ILO CRITICIZED BANGLADESH LABOR ACT
ILO has severely criticized the BLA as
restricting the fundamental rights of
workers.
interviews with EPZ workers they have
indicated that the zone authorities are
primarily interested in protecting
investment – not addressing workers’
rights violations.

17. THE COMMITTEE REGRETTED
the Committee “regretted” that “many changes requested
by the Committee are still not addressed by the proposed
amendments” and stated further that “Observing that a
very large number of provisions would need to be
repealed or substantially amended to ensure the
compatibility of the draft EPZ Labor Act

18. WHY TRADE UNION SHOULD BE ALLOWED
IN INDUSTRIES OF EPZ IN BANGLADESH?
1. No Freedom of Association for Bangladesh's EPZ Workers, trade
union ensure the freedom of workers.
2. Trade union leader may guide the EPZ worker to do better work.
3. Unwanted issues could be reduce
4. Many of the employers while talking to The Independent
expressed their fear that politics might infiltrate trade unions.
5. Ensure EPZ worker rights Trade union member can do strike on
management or industry owner unethical issues which may harm
them.

19. IN THE END
EPZ really want trade union because a registered trade union could
ensure workers deserve able rights and the employers could do
legal strike to unethical issues. And trade union could inspire zone.
worker to do work for betterment of country export processing
zone

20. THANK YOU !