Work conditions in Bangladesh

The Active Population in Figures

Working Conditions

Legal Weekly Duration

No worker can work more than 48 hours per week or 10 hours per day.

Retirement Age

59 years

Working Contracts

An employer must normally provide employees with a written statement of terms and conditions of employment within two months of starting employment. Contracts can also be verbal.

Labour Laws

Consult Doing Business Website, to obtain a summary of the labor regulations that apply to local entreprises.

Cost of Labour

Minimum Wage

According to the Ministry of Labor and Employment of Bangladesh's minimum wage board the gross average monthly wage varies depending on the sector.

Average Wage

The gross average monthly wage is BDT 13,258 according to latest data available from the Bureau of Statistics of Bangladesh.

Social Contributions

Social Security Contributions Paid By Employers: There is no social security system in Bangladesh. However, companies of a certain size must contribute up to 5% of their profits to a fund (Workers Profit Participation Fund).
Social Security Contributions Paid By Employees: None

Social Partners

Employer Associations

SULCCI - Sulaimaniyah Chamber of Commerce and Industry
ECCI - Erbil Chamber of Commerce and Industry
IBA - Iraq Businessmen Association

Social Dialogue and Involvement of Social Partners

Freedom of association and the right to organize are guaranteed by the Constitution, but in practice the laws are not respected. Companies often discourage workers from forming unions and union members are subject to intimidation and violence. In special export zones, the right of association and protection of workers is limited. Industrial relations are often tense, especially in the textile sector, which saw the creation of more than 100 new unions in 2013.

Labour Unions

Bangladesh Garment and Industrial Workers Federation (BGIWF)
Bangladesh Trade Union Kendra
Bangladesh Labour Federation
Bangladesh Free Trade Union Congress (BFTUC)
Jatio Sramik Federation

Unionisation Rate

Bangladesh has 2.5m of trade union members (roughly 4.4% of the workforce).

Labour Regulation Bodies

Ministry of Labour and Employment