ILO Seeks Bangladesh Labour Reform Amid 2026 Economic Transition

Labour rights and social mobility remain critical challenges across different regions and sectors. In Bangladesh, efforts are underway to reform labour laws to improve labour-management relations, which is crucial for the country’s economic development and maintaining trade preferences with developed markets under the WTO framework, as noted by international bodies including the ILO. In England, stark regional disparities in social mobility persist, with poorer pupils in East Ham, London, being over three times more likely to earn a degree by age 22 compared to their counterparts in Newcastle, highlighting significant barriers Labour aims to address in its opportunity mission. Additionally, trade unions like Usdaw are urging the government, and Labour in particular, to support wealth taxation and employment rights reforms to create a fairer society and enhance workers' protections. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner emphasizes the importance of job security and employee wellbeing as part of the government’s Employment Rights Bill, which aims to provide guaranteed hours, fair dismissal protections, and improved pay, contributing to a healthier and more productive workforce. Together, these developments underscore ongoing efforts to tackle inequality and improve labour conditions both domestically in the UK and internationally.