Knitwear manufacturers and exporters have welcomed the passage of the Labour (Amendment) Bill 2026 in parliament but urged the government to quickly revise what they describe as “ambiguous and confusing” provisions in the law.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association said while the amended law marks progress, several clauses remain unclear and could create complications in the industrial sector if not addressed.
BKMEA President Mohammad Hatem said some unintended ambiguities persisted in the law due to time constraints during the drafting process. “These issues need to be revisited and corrected through further discussion in parliament,” he said.
He alleged that in the past, certain provisions of the labour law were made unclear under the influence of some international organizations, bypassing decisions of the tripartite consultative committee. Such ambiguities, he warned, could fuel labour unrest and send negative signals to foreign buyers.
Although the current government has addressed some of these issues in the latest amendment, Hatem noted that confusion still remains in parts of the law. Failure to resolve them could lead to instability in the industrial sector, discourage both local and foreign investment, and hinder ease of doing business, he added.
The BKMEA chief also stressed the need to give due importance to these concerns in future amendments to ensure a stable and peaceful production environment in factories.
He, however, welcomed provisions that classify the unfair blacklisting of workers as a punishable offence under unfair labour practices.
At the same time, Hatem called for stricter measures against individuals who, under the guise of workers, engage in vandalism, arson, unlawful strikes, hostage-taking of officials, or obstruct other workers. Such acts, he said, should also be treated as unfair labour practices and brought under strict punishment.
He further urged international organizations and foreign missions involved in labour law reforms to also monitor whether global buyers are offering fair and ethical prices to Bangladeshi suppliers. Otherwise, he cautioned, both factories and workers could ultimately suffer.