Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS)

Established in 1995, Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies-BILS is the only labour institute of the country. As an apex organization, BILS endeavors to uphold the causes of working people and trade unions of Bangladesh. 12 major National Trade Union Federations are associated with BILS. Keeping in view to build up a just and democratic society, enabling the workers organizations to play appropriate role as a major force BILS emphasizes on capacity building of the Trade Unions through training, research and information sharing.

BILS has started work for migration and migrant workers’ rights through conducted a bulky research in 2014 with the support of ILO. BILS has been implemented a lot of activities with the support of different partners since its inception. However, BILS has been started the work focusing safe, orderly and regular migration at national and local level designing implementation work on advocacy, policy research, Publications, capacity building of Trade Unions, establishment of support centers for migrants and their family in different migrant prone areas (Chittagong, Manikganj, Jessore, Faridpur). Main implemented activities of these centers were Information sharing, pre-decision and pre-departure training, Courtyard, Counseling, and Referral linkage services. The filed level direct interventions were stated from 2019 to 2021 with the support of MJF, DTDA, EU and ICMPD.

Meanwhile, In January 2020 BILS started another project implementation at national level with the support of ILO which focused is to develop capacity of Trade Union on migration and migrant’s workers’ decent work issues. National level Trade Union Centers was direct benefited from the project. Apart from this research, Advocacy meeting with relevant stakeholders and follow up activities was implemented in a different way at the field level.

Afterward In December 2021 started another project implementation with the support of ILO. 5000 migrants was target beneficiary and received different support from the project focused on safe migration and re-integration issues. Apart from this, Community Volunteers Team is formed in 4 areas (Chittagong, Manikganj, Jessore, Faridpur) and they are now playing active role at the field level without any project support. Currently BILS has also been working with ILO for implementing some activities towards ratification of ILO Convention 189 and promotion of the rights of migrants and their family members.

Protecting workers rights is the main objective of BILS and it strives to promote just and worker friendly policies and laws in Bangladesh. It also plays a catalyst role in bridging trade unions, civil society and the government on labour market issues. Thus BILS wants to explore its activities on migrant workers’ rights issues where the migrant workers can enjoy their rights like others.

Official Website:  www.bilsbd.org