Since 1978, the Bangladesh Agricultural Farm Labour Federation (BAFLF) has been working relentlessly to establish the rights and demands of the agricultural workers, agricultural farm workers and rural workers. Prior to the establishment of BAFLF, the minimum wage for agricultural labour was Bangladeshi Taka (BDT) 5.00 or US$ 0.06 per day, and they perform their tedious work even during Eid (festival) days.

BAFLF continuously struggled for the rights of the agricultural workers that in 2010, the Inter-Ministerial Standing Committee for Agricultural Farm Labours’ Affairs set the minimum wage at BHT 200 (US$ 2.45) per day.

However, this level of improvement on the lives of agricultural workers was not achieved in a night. BAFLF led several strikes and demonstrations and called for wage increase, enactment of workmen’s compensation act, and other benefits such as gratuity and maternity leave for women workers.

In 1989, to stand up to the agricultural workers’ demands including the declaration of two festival (Eid) bonuses of farm labours, BAFLF went for strike for one month. The national government granted one festival bonus equivalent to one month’s wage, but this will only be applied to regular farm workers. BAFLF negotiated that there be two festival bonuses and that the benefits apply not only to regular workers but to irregular and seasonal agricultural workers as well.

Finally, on 20 May 2012, the Inter-Ministerial Standing Committee decided to provide two festival bonuses for regular workers and one festival bonus for farm labourers working on irregular basis. For the first time in Bangladesh, the irregular workers are now enjoying the fruit of their struggles. The Bangladesh Agricultural Farm Labour Federation is on the right track of establishing agricultural workers’ rights in the country.