From 25 February to 1 March, a series of workshops – concluding today with the national dialogue – engaged different actors to reflect on the progress, pertinent challenges, and opportunities of responsible business conduct in Bangladesh. Discussions centered on the need to develop a roadmap for action on responsible business and what roles different actors can play to promote corporate responsibility in line with international standards like the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs).

“As Bangladesh prepares for LDC graduation and upcoming mandatory human rights due diligence laws, the UNGPs provide guidance for states and businesses to play their part in protecting, respecting and remediating business-related human rights violations,” said Stephan Liller, Resident Representative of UNDP Bangladesh. “The UNGPs can also assist states and businesses in contributing to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, and UNDP remains committed to support efforts to implement these standards in Bangladesh and across Asia,” he added.

Speakers at the event noted that Bangladesh should make greater efforts to promote business and human rights to ensure the long-term growth of export-oriented industries – not only the ready-made-garments sector, but all industries – which are vital engines of the economy.

"The government, employers and workers’ organizations in Bangladesh have been successfully advancing labour reforms and promoting responsible business and decent work for all. ILO is committed to continue to support this work, which will protect Bangladesh’s hard earned economic growth and lead towards the achievement of the SDGs," said Mr. Tuomo Poutiainen, ILO Country Director in Bangladesh.

Many European countries are adopting legislation on mandatory human rights due diligence, which would require businesses of a certain size to identify, prevent and mitigate the adverse impacts of their operations on human rights, labour rights, and the environment. Since three-quarters of Bangladesh's exports are targeted for European markets, businesses in these nations will be required to demonstrate due diligence measures in their supply chains. Similar legislation and measures are being taken by other trading partners.

The event was attended by approximately 250 participants, including representatives from the government, employers’ and workers’ organizations, civil society, development partners, global brands and retailers, and academia.

Relevant information

• The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), which was unanimously endorsed by the Human Rights Council in June 2011, are the authoritative global standard on business respect for human rights. A set of 31 principles organised under the three pillars of 'Protect, Respect and Remedy', the UNGPs provide guidance to states and companies on how to prevent, address, and remedy human rights abuses committed in business operations. The ILO's Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy (MNE Declaration) provides direct guidance to enterprises on social policy and inclusive, responsible, and sustainable workplace practices. ILO Briefing Note  (Link)
• Bangladesh improved its ranking in the Human Development Index (HDI) for 2021-22 (Link) and scored 0.714 on the World Economic Forum’s 2022 Global Gender Gap Index, making it one of the top countries in the region for closing the gender gap. It ranks seventh in the index’s sub-ranking of political empowerment (Link).
• Bangladesh is rated as one of the ten worst countries in the world for working people in 2021, according to the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) Global Rights Index 2022 (Link), where over 35,000 Bangladeshis die at work every year, and 8 million are injured.