Labour Act, Bangladesh (Law Prohibiting Discrimination or Harassment)

Labour Act, Section 345 (Law Prohibiting Discrimination or Harassment)

Section 345 of the Labour Act prohibits discrimination. Under this section, male, female and disabled workers must be given equal wages for work of equal nature or standard. Section 332 of the Labour Act also states that no person shall behave with a female worker in an indecent or unmannerly way or in a way that is repugnant to the modesty or honour of the female worker, regardless of her rank or status in the establishment.

While the Labour Act does not specifically address the issue of harassment, the High Court Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, in BNWLA v Bangladesh and others, 14 BLC (HCD) 694, set out guidelines on sexual harassment for protecting and safeguarding the rights of women and girls at workplaces, educational institutions, universities and other places, wherever necessary.