The Socialist Labour Front has expressed deep concern over what it describes as the government's continued neglect of workers' rights and welfare in the proposed national budget, arguing that labour remains absent from the state's list of priorities despite workers' central role in driving the economy.

In a statement issued to the media, Socialist Labour Front President Rajekuzzaman Ratan and General Secretary Ahsan Habib Bulbul criticized the budget for failing to allocate adequate resources for workers' rights protection, food security, healthcare, social protection, climate-related support, and skill development in line with the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

The leaders also demanded the implementation of recommendations made by the Labour Reform Commission and called for specific budgetary allocations for workers' rationing, healthcare, housing, and social security.

The statement noted that the proposed budget contains no clear or comprehensive measures for workers.

Although the size of the national budget has increased from Tk 788,000 crore to Tk 938,000 crore—an expansion of nearly 20 percent—the allocation for the Ministry of Labour and Employment and the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment has failed to keep pace with that growth.

According to the leaders, while the labour ministry's allocation has increased by only 14 percent compared to the previous fiscal year, the share for the expatriates' welfare ministry has effectively declined by around 5 percent.

They argued that this reflects a lack of commitment toward ensuring decent work, employment opportunities, and protection for both domestic and migrant workers whose labour contributes significantly to the country's economy and foreign exchange earnings.

The statement highlighted what it called a stark imbalance in government spending priorities.

While thousands of crores are allocated for infrastructure supervision and construction-related activities, the ministry responsible for protecting the rights of more than 75 million workers and creating new employment opportunities has been allocated only Tk 467 crore.

The labour leaders also criticized the finance minister's budget speech for recognizing wealth creation while failing to acknowledge the contribution of workers or outline any meaningful welfare plans for them.

They said the absence of direct commitments to workers' welfare in the budget is disappointing for the country's labour force.

The statement further warned that reducing direct taxes while increasing indirect taxes ultimately places a greater burden on working people.

Although reopening state-owned factories and establishing new industrial enterprises are positive initiatives, the leaders argued that relying heavily on loan-driven business expansion without a comprehensive employment strategy could increase economic vulnerabilities and debt risks.

To ensure balanced and sustainable economic development, the Socialist Labour Front called for stronger investment in workforce development, including training and skills enhancement for young job seekers and existing workers.

It stressed that workers' access to food, healthcare, housing, and social protection must be reflected as clear priorities in the national budget.

"The country's economic progress depends on its workers," the statement said, urging the government to place labour rights, social security, and decent employment at the center of economic planning and budgetary policy.

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