New law a ‘turning point’ for Bangladesh garment workers

DHAKA - Bangladesh’s new labour law is being cast as a potential turning point for the country’s four million garment workers – and a fresh test of brands’ human rights due diligence as tighter EU rules loom.

The Bangladesh Labour (Amendment) Act 2026 lowers barriers to unionisation by replacing the controversial 20% workforce support rule with fixed thresholds, allowing unions for as few as 20 workers in factories with up to 300 employees, and for 400 in sites with over 3,000.