Bangladesh is advancing an important labour law amendment, expected by November 2025, focused on strengthening penalties for child labour.

Key points:

There are about 3.5 million child labourers under current definitions; roughly 1 million of them are engaged in hazardous work.

The draft law will not only increase fines and penalties but also reconsider the legal definition of child labour, especially what counts as “hazardous” or “assisting parents.”

Implications:

For employers: they must ensure their operations do not involve children under prohibited ages or expose minors to dangerous tasks.

For regulatory bodies: stronger monitoring and enforcement will be required.

For parents and communities: awareness is crucial, especially in distinguishing safe assistance vs. illegal or unsafe child labour.