Dhaka: IndustriALL Bangladesh Council (IBC) on Sunday placed a 25-point recommendation for incorporation in the revised Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006 saying the inclusion of their suggestions will help make the Act a time-befitting one.

IBC secretary general Towhidur Rahman placed the recommendations at a discussion titled 'Labour Law Amendment Proposals' held at Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU).

IBC chairman Mojibur Rahman Bhuiyan presided over the event while IBC project coordinator Syeda Humaira delivered the inaugural speech.

Mujibor Rahman said it is the high time to ensure 'democratisation' of the Bangladesh Labour Act keeping equal scope for all to protect their rights.

He said various labour bodies, including the International Labor Organisation (ILO), raised their concerns about the existing law. "This Act is not worker-friendly one, rather it's an owner-friendly law," the IBC Chairman said.

Towhidur Rahman said bringing amendments to the Labour Act is important keeping conformity with the ILO Convention, and the government is working towards that goal.

He urged the government to drop Article 27 from the Labour Act, 2006 saying that it is being abused widely and the workers are being deprived of their legal rights in many ways.

Towhid said a provision should be incorporated in the revised law allowing women workers to be out of work at night (after 8pm to 6am)."

Terming the Labour Act 2006 contradictory to the Constitution, he said one country cannot have two laws. "Government female officials are entitled to enjoy 24 weeks of maternity leave while the private sector ones get 16 weeks of maternity leave. This is discriminatory," Towhid added.

He urged the government to allow 24-week maternity leave for all the women employees engaged both in public and private sectors.

Sommilito Garments Sramik Federation president Nazma Akter said women are working more than their male counterparts in most informal sectors but they do not get the recognition and there is no wage structure for them.

"The government needs to look into these. We want a non-discriminatory labour law for all workers," she added.

BILS executive director Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmmed, senior leaders of IBC Badruddoza Nizam, Kutub Uddin Ahmend, Babul Akter, Rashedul Islam Raju, Tahmina Rahman, Nurul Islam, among others, spoke on the occasion.