Bangladesh Employers’ Federation (BEF), in collaboration with the Labour Administration and Working Condition Cluster (LAWC) of the ILO Country Office for Bangladesh, organized an online Legal Clinic via zoom on 28 April 2026.
This initiative was supported under the Team Europe Initiative (TEI) – a joint effort of the European Union, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Sweden – on Decent Work in Bangladesh.
The session aimed to create a platform for discussion and exchange on issues relating to the Bangladesh Labour Act (BLA) and International Labour Standards (ILS). It brought together officers of BEF member-firms working in labour law, labour administration, industrial relations, human resources, and occupational health & safety.
Mr. Muhammad Habibur Rahman, Assistant Secretary-General (Legal Affairs), BEF, facilitated the session. The participants actively discussed the agenda of the Legal Clinic, focusing on the best practices of their enterprises respectively.
During the session, participants discussed a matter arising in a tea estate where the secretary of a registered trade union demanded full medical support for all persons residing within the estate, including dependents, non-dependents, and non-workers, while management intended to provide medical facilities only to workers. The participants exchanged views on the issues from their practical aspects and said that they provide medical facilities for all workers and non-workers like family members, dependents and non-dependents. They also said that an MBBS doctor visits patients every Friday at the Medical Centre of the tea estate.
The Legal Clinic also discussed the issue of frequent absenteeism of workers and the legal considerations for proving habitual absence as misconduct, including relevant legal references and practical procedures to ensure due process. Participating officials also shared their best practice regarding the same issues at their enterprises.
Another important agenda concerning compensation for a worker who lost one hand in a workplace accident. Participants examined whether compensation would remain payable under the Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006 and relevant Rules and shared their practical experiences and best practices on the issues.
During the session the facilitator also discussed the major changes of the latest amendment of BLA, 2006.A total of 39 participants (31 male and 08 female), representing HR, Administration, Compliance, and Legal Departments of BEF member organizations, joined the event.
