In recent weeks, the Bangladesh Agricultural Farm Labourers’ Federation (BAFLF) has intensified its campaign for labour rights, particularly in response to a new government policy that proposes the appointment of temporary workers on a daily wage basis across various ministries, state-run institutions, and departments.
The Daily‑Based Temporary Workers Employment Policy, 2025, introduced by the Ministry of Finance, allows government agencies to hire workers on a daily basis for up to 22 days per month, aimed at filling urgent or essential roles.
BAFLF, which has long organized workers at state-run agricultural bodies such as the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC), has strongly criticized the policy, calling it misguided and harmful to workers’ rights.
The federation notes that the policy contradicts the 2017 Agricultural Farm Workers Recruitment and Control Policy and creates widespread confusion. BAFLF is urging that all daily wage workers in government offices, directorates, departments, and autonomous institutions be made permanent, with relaxations in age limits where necessary.
On June 29, the federation led a demonstration in front of the National Press Club, demanding the withdrawal of the new policy.
Fears of Misapplication of the Policy
There are also reports that the new guidelines are being misinterpreted. Institutions under the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, and the Ministry of Textiles and Jute are allegedly reclassifying existing permanent and irregular workers as temporary, leading to a reduction in benefits and a deterioration in working conditions.
The federation has demanded the immediate cancellation of the policy and called for the government to enforce an earlier directive from the Ministry of Agriculture regarding the regularization of BADC workers.
Instead of implementing the Finance Ministry’s policy, BAFLF has urged the government to adopt their 13-point agenda – according to the 2017 policy.
Following the demonstration on the 29th of June, the federation submitted a detailed memorandum to the office of the Chief Advisor, highlighting the following demands:
- Immediately implement the Ministry of Agriculture’s order to regularize irregular workers in all research farms, including BADC, under the 2017 policy.
- In view of soaring inflation and rising essential costs, set the daily wage at Tk 1,000 for regular workers and Tk 950 for irregular workers.
- Gratuity benefits should be calculated at 60 days’ wages per full year of service, not the current 30 days, and paid at the end of service.
- Introduce provident fund benefits for all agricultural workers.
- Repeal or amend contradictory provisions in the worker management manuals of farms and research bodies (including BADC) that clash with the 2017 policy and the Bangladesh Labour Act 2006 (as amended).
- Grant six months’ paid maternity leave for all female agricultural workers.
- Review wages and benefits every two years through negotiations between the Inter-Ministerial Standing Committee and BAFLF.
- Set the standard worker-per-hectare ratio at 7.
- Introduce a New Year’s allowance equivalent to half of one month’s wages for each worker.
- Provide a 50% hill allowance for workers in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, based on daily wages.
- Establish a rationing system linked to social security programs for farm workers.
- Ensure medical allowances and health insurance for all agricultural workers.
- Give priority employment to the dependents of workers who die in service or retire.
BAFLF has noted that although most research institutions under the Ministry of Agriculture adhere to the 2017 policy, BADC frequently fails to comply. Despite explicit instructions from the Ministry of Agriculture directing the BADC Chairman to regularize irregular workers, the corporation has yet to act.
It is in this context that the new “Daily Temporary Workers Employment Policy, 2025”, issued by the Ministry of Finance, has sparked further concern—especially as it was drafted without consulting workers’ representatives.
“If these controversial and harmful policies from the Ministry of Finance override the Agricultural Farm Workers Recruitment and Regulation Policy-2017, agricultural workers could lose existing benefits such as gratuity, leave, maternity benefits, festival bonuses, and medical coverage,” warned Golam Sorowar of BAFLF.