A cabinet meeting presided over by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave the nod to the draft at the Secretariat on Monday.
After the meeting, Cabinet Secretary Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan told journalists the proposed law had a provision for the EPZ workers to form ‘Workers’ Welfare Society’ or trade union and they would also have bargaining power.
“The new law is compatible with the existing labour law,” he added.
Bhuiyan said, “To form a trade union, 30 percent of workers of an organisation will have to apply to EPZ authority for it.
"The authorities then will organise a voting among the applicants. If 50 percent of the votes opt for trade union, the authorities will give the permission to form a trade union in the organisation.”
Workers’ welfare association is also subject to registration, added the secretary.
He also said, “Bangladesh Labour Law 2006 does not apply to EPZ workers. Instead, they are governed by two other manuals, EPZ Workers’ Welfare Society and Industrial Relations Act.”
The new law is intended to protect EPZ workers’ interests, he said.
Other stakeholders were consulted while preparing the draft of new law, which has 16 chapters, 204 sections and 5 articles.