Bill introduced in Parliament banning strike in essential services sector

• April 06, 2023

A bill has been introduced in the National Assembly to ban illegal strikes in the essential services sector in Bangladesh and impose jail-fines as punishment for striking. The proposed bill states that the government can prohibit strikes in the case of any essential service if it deems it necessary in the public interest. Any person who starts an illegal strike or continues the strike shall be punished with imprisonment for a maximum of six months or with a fine of 50 thousand rupees or with both.

According to the bill, the government can, if it deems it necessary, prohibit lockout and layoff in any institution in the public interest. Keeping these provisions, the Essential Services Bill-2023 has been raised in Parliament.

Bangladesh labor and employment representative Munnujan Sufian raised the bill in the national parliament. Later the bill was sent to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry of Labor and Employment for examination and report. The new Act is repealing the Essential Services (Maintenance) Act, 1958 and the Essential Services (Second) Ordinance, 1958.

According to the bill, the law can declare a job or any service related to a job as an essential service in certain cases. Among these, the government can declare essential services in certain cases, including any service related to employment, where public welfare services may be severely affected if any disruption occurs. Supply and maintenance services essential to public safety or the livelihood of the public are or are likely to be seriously impaired. Services which cause or are likely to cause intolerable hardship to the public and any services necessary to ensure the security of the whole or any part of the country with a view to ensuring the defense of the country.

According to the bill, the essential services shall mean the services which are - post and telecommunication, information and communication technology, e-commerce and other electronic or digital services; digital financial services; Transmission, distribution, supply and sale of electricity and maintenance and expansion of related facilities; passenger or goods transport services by land, rail, water or air; Any other service under the purview of the Bangladesh Civil and Aviation Authority, including aircraft and airport operation and maintenance-related services; Related port or port-related services including loading and unloading, transfer of goods at land ports, river ports, sea ports or airports; clearance-related services to any goods or passengers; Anti-smuggling-related services.

any establishment or establishment-related service under the armed forces and any service in connection with any establishment established or established by the armed forces for the purpose of defense of the country; Any service in connection with any establishment or organization engaged in the production of goods or goods necessary for the purpose of national defence; Purchase, sale, collection, storage of foodstuff, any service in connection with any government-owned or government-controlled establishment or organization engaged in storage, supply or distribution; Government-owned or government-controlled conservation and water supply or sanitation-related services; any services related to hospitals, clinics, health centers or similar institutions and dispensaries; Organizations engaged in drug production, supply, marketing, buying and selling and other related activities,any oil field, oil refinery, oil storage and establishment engaged in the production, transportation, supply and distribution of petroleum or petroleum-like substances etc. Any services related to minting and security printing works.

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