"Bangladesh exits world’s worst 10 for workers’ rights", 2 June 2026

Bangladesh has moved out of the list of the world’s 10 worst countries for workers’ rights in 2026 for the first time since 2017, although the country remained in rating 5, ‘no guarantee of rights’, in the latest International Trade Union Confederation Global Rights Index.

Bangladesh had been featured among the world’s 10 worst countries for working people until the 2025 edition of the index, marking the ninth consecutive year the country was placed in the lowest rating category.

The ITUC report, …, said that Bangladesh’s improvement was largely driven by legislative reforms enacted … under the interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus after the fall of the previous Sheikh Hasina-led government …

The reforms also introduced 120 days of paid maternity leave, expanded social security, welfare and union rights to domestic and agricultural workers, and brought the hazardous shipbreaking industry under formal labour regulations for the first time…

Sultan Uddin said that that trade union registration remained difficult in small and medium-sized factories, as establishments employing 50 workers still required 40 per cent representation to form a union.

He also stressed the need to extend legal protection to all categories of workers and ensure genuine trade union representation in tripartite committees…

Workers in Special Economic Zones were still systematically deprived of their right to form and join trade unions, it said…

… According to the ITUC, countries placed in Rating 5 are considered among the worst places in the world for workers because, although some rights may formally exist in national legislation, workers effectively have little or no access to them and remain exposed to unfair labour practices…

… The ITUC additionally highlighted the vulnerability of Bangladeshi migrant workers abroad, …