Rights at work

Improving Labour Law Compliance and Building Sound Labour Practices in the Export Oriented Shrimp Sector in Bangladesh

The Shrimp project is funded by the Government of Bangladesh (GoB) and aims to promote better labour law compliance with international labour standards, particularly fundamental principles and rights at work in the export-oriented shrimp sector.

Project background

The processed/frozen shrimp industry is one of the largest export industries in Bangladesh, earning about $667 million yearly. Shrimp products constitute more than 80% of exported frozen food items and 2.5% of the world shrimp market. The shrimp industry provides direct employment to over 60,000 people who in turn support well over 3. 5 million dependents. It is estimated that 80% of the export processing workers are women. There is a lack of up to date information and knowledge about size, registration and working conditions in the sector. It is also important to assess and to know more about challenges faced in applying labour law in the sector and about the various capacity needs among Government agencies responsible for oversight including the labour inspectorate and fisheries inspections touching on labour issues. It is likewise important to better understand employers and workers concerns, awareness and ability to follow labour law in the sector.

Project objectives

The objective of this project is to support government, industry, and labour to improve labour practices and compliance with labour standards in the shrimp processing industry of Bangladesh.

The Shrimp project aims to promote better compliance with international labour standards, particularly fundamental principles and rights at work in the export oriented shrimp processing. It’s immediate objectives are:
  • Immediate Objective 1: Increase awareness and build cooperation among national and international stakeholders on labour compliance within the Bangladeshi shrimp supply chain and its labour practices.
  • Immediate Objective 2: Employers and workers and their representatives in the shrimp processing industry will have better knowledge and understanding of labour rights and responsibilities – in law and in practice.
  • Immediate Objective 3: The Ministry of Labour and Employment (MoLE), the Department of Fisheries and Livestock (DoFL), the Chief Inspector of factory and Establishment (CIFE) and labour-management factory level committees will have an improved capacity to perform their labour law compliance functions.
Target Groups and Partners
The Ministry of Labour and Employment (MoLE), the Department of Fisheries and Livestock (DoFL), Department of Inspections for Factories and Establishment (DIFE) and employer’ and workers’ organizations.

Some Highlights:
  • Comprehensive study on Supply Chain, Labour Practice and Occupational Safety and Health will be conducted
  • 800 workers, employers and their representatives trained to increase their understanding, skills and tools to implement fundamental labour rights at the workplace
  • Conduct Education, Information and Outreach program
  • For better labour inspection, a number of tools piloted by the project to support labour law compliance
  • Cooperation building among national and international partners through multi stakeholder forum

For further information please contact:

S M Mikhail Islam, National Project Officer

Improving Labour Law Compliance and Building Sound Labour Practices in the Export Oriented Shrimp Sector in Bangladesh

Project Office: House 30, Road 04, Nirala R/A, Khulna, Bangladesh Tel.: +88 041733794