Fair Wear welcomes the Bangladesh government's ratification of three key International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions: Convention No. 155 on Occupational Safety and Health, Convention No. 187 on the Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health, and Convention No. 190 on the Elimination of Violence and Harassment in the World of Work.
This milestone makes Bangladesh the first country in South Asia to ratify all three conventions, marking a major step forward in strengthening labour rights, improving workplace safety, and advancing gender equality.
For brands and suppliers, this development reinforces the need to embed robust Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence (HREDD) processes, including stronger risk assessment, prevention, and remediation mechanisms related to violence, harassment, and occupational safety. It also offers opportunities for businesses to demonstrate responsible practices, strengthen worker protection, and build more transparent and resilient supply chains. HRDD helps support the implementation of ILO conventions, and due diligence facilitates brands and business in building an environment where these conventions translate into practice.
Fair Wear has actively contributed to this achievement through the Gender Platform Bangladesh, a coalition of trade unions, civil society organisations, and development partners. Since 2017, the platform has advocated gender-responsive workplace policies and the ratification of Convention 190. Our efforts included national roundtables, signature campaigns, and targeted advocacy that helped build the necessary momentum for government action.
In 2024, we deepened our collaboration with key industry associations. Together with the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), Fair Wear co-developed guidance on preventing sexual harassment in the workplace. This builds on the STITCH consortium’s joint initiative with BKMEA, which trained trainers to reach member factories, benefiting workers through updated policies and strengthened Anti-Harassment Committees.
We also worked closely with the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) to advance a formal partnership focused on improving grievance handling, strengthening brand accountability, and reinforcing collaboration through the Ready-Made Garment Sustainability Council (RSC).
This achievement is the result of sustained collaboration and meaningful engagement among diverse stakeholders, including government representatives, trade unions, employers’ associations, civil society organisations, and international partners. It reflects years of collective advocacy and dialogue aimed at improving labour standards and ensuring gender equality at work.
These ratifications will shape and strengthen our future work in Bangladesh by providing a solid framework for advancing international labour standards through practical implementation. They will guide how we update our guidance for brands, suppliers, and industry partners, helping them integrate the principles of the newly ratified conventions into responsible business practices. We will continue our focus on the prevention of violence and harassment, stronger grievance and remediation systems, and safer, more inclusive workplaces.
Fair Wear will continue to build on this momentum to ensure that the spirit of these conventions translates into lasting, systemic change - where respect for rights, safety, and dignity is the foundation of Bangladesh’s garment and textile industry.