The Workers Rights 
Workers’ rights, social protection, workplace safety, decent work and climate resilience should be central to Bangladesh’s position for the upcoming COP31 climate conference, say worker organisations and civil society groups. The demands were made at a workshop on September 27 to prepare a Workers’ Position Paper for the international climate talks.
The workshop was arranged by Manusher Jonno Foundation and National Alliance for Just Transition Bangladesh with the support of Oxfam Bangladesh and Bangladesh Labour Foundation. Participants said climate policy must take into account the realities facing workers whose livelihoods and health are increasingly under threat from extreme heat, fewer working hours, unsafe workplaces and other climate-related pressures.
Climate Change Brings Growing Risks For Bangladeshi Workers
Climate change is already impacting working conditions in sectors such as agriculture, construction, garments and the informal economy. Higher temperatures could increase heat stress, reduce productive working hours, and add health risks, particularly for workers who are exposed to high temperatures for extended periods of time.
In the garment sector, the growing workplace challenge is clear. In a recent study, workers in ironing and finishing units were exposed to high or severe heat stress on more than three-quarters of working days during a growing seven-month heat season. The findings suggest that climate adaptation is also a workplace safety and productivity issue.
Just Transition Needs Workers At The Heart
Bangladesh’s fledgling agenda for a just transition offers an opportunity to link climate action with decent work and social protection. Already, worker organisations in Bangladesh are working with the International Labour Organisation to develop the country’s third Nationally Determined Contribution, as well as efforts to create a more inclusive, climate-resilient future of work.
The ILO has also noted the extent of informal employment in Bangladesh and the particular vulnerability of women, coastal workers, home-based workers and other groups to climate and economic disruption. A worker-centred transition can therefore help ensure that changes in energy, technology and production systems do not leave vulnerable groups unprotected.
Continued Demand For Worker Representation At COP31
The September workshop made a significant call for worker and employer representatives to play a direct role in Bangladesh’s COP negotiations. Labour representatives have argued that social dialogue should be a stronger part of the process, rather than workers being represented only indirectly through broader climate consultations.
The National Alliance for Just Transition Bangladesh brings together nearly 60 civil society and trade union organisations across around 20 sectors and is preparing a unified Workers’ Charter of Demands for COP31. The Charter aims to pull together issues from across the workforce and create a common platform for policy engagement.
Paid Heat Breaks May Bolster Workplace Protections
Paid heat-rest breaks are among the proposals discussed to be included in Bangladesh’s position at COP31. The recommendation is part of a growing concern about the impact of prolonged exposure to extreme temperatures on workers’ health, productivity and safety.
Protection against heat can be especially important for industries where workers are in factories, construction sites, agricultural fields or other settings where there is limited protection from the heat. Appropriate rest periods, access to drinking water, ventilation, heat monitoring and adjustments to working schedules during periods of extreme heat can be included in workplace measures.
Social Protection Can Help Workers Cope With Climate Shocks
Social protection is another important part of the proposed worker-centred climate agenda. Skills development is closely linked to the labour rights agenda, as climate and technological transitions are expected to change the nature of work in many industries. They want the national approach to include training and reskilling so that job opportunities can evolve with cleaner production systems.
Take Bangladesh’s apparel sector as an example. One needs structured training for workers as factories implement renewable energy, automation and other technologies, stakeholders from industry and labour said recently. The aim is not to have technological change cause avoidable job losses, but to prepare workers for jobs of the future.
Climate Policy Needs Labour Rights
The Bangladesh debate is part of a wider international recognition that climate policy and labour rights are intimately connected. Moving to cleaner energy and production can generate new jobs, but it can also disrupt existing jobs if workers are not included in planning and provided with the right support.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s labour authorities have repeated commitments to labour rights, social justice and human rights in international labour forums. Recent government statements have mentioned reforms to labour legislation, trade union registration and labour inspection, giving a wider institutional context to the worker-focused COP31 talks.
Bangladesh Can Connect Climate Resilience With Decent Work
Exposure to climate risk is significant for Bangladesh, and resilience is an important part of long-term economic and social planning. Climate policies for workers can link national adaptation policies to the needs of industries and communities that rely on stable jobs and safe working conditions.
The proposed Workers’ Charter provides an opportunity to bring together demands on heat protection, social security, skills development, health and safety and representation at work. The initiative also echoes efforts by trade unions and civil society organisations to formulate a coordinated voice for workers and not individual sectoral demands.
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