Bangladesh Labour Foundation - BLF

What Bangladesh Labour Foundation - BLF does

Bangladesh Labour Foundation (BLF) is a non-government, non-profit, non-partisan labour rights organization established in 2001 and registered with Bangladesh's NGO Affairs Bureau, the Department of Social Welfare, and the Directorates of Youth and Sports. Headquartered in Dhaka with 32 staff, BLF delivers programmes across formal and informal sectors including ready-made garments (RMG), leather and footwear, tannery, construction, transport, domestic work, agriculture, home-based work, and emerging sectors such as light engineering, plastic, and waste management. Its core programme areas are policy advocacy and legal reforms, worker empowerment and trade union strengthening, corporate accountability and ethical supply chains, sector-specific labour rights interventions, social protection and economic security, and research, awareness, and campaign work — supplemented by publications, training manuals, and National Plans of Action such as the NPA on Child Labour 2026-2030.

BLF does not sell products or services commercially; instead it is funded through grants and partnerships with international development organizations, governments, and foundations. Disclosed donors and partners include ILO, the European Union, UNDP, FCDO/UK Aid, the Dutch government, GIZ, Oxfam Novib, MondiaalFNV, Fair Wear Foundation, The Asia Foundation, Ethical Trading Initiative, GFEMS, and Stop Child Labour Coalition/SOMO, alongside government counterparts such as Bangladesh's Ministry of Labour and Employment and DIFE, and trade union bodies including IndustriALL Bangladesh Council (IBC) and SKOP. Distribution of outputs occurs through tripartite policy forums, training and capacity-building workshops, research publications, online campaigns, and platforms such as CLEP and the National Alliance for Just Transition Bangladesh (NAJTB).

Operationally, BLF combines research and evidence production with on-the-ground training, community organizing, and direct participation in tripartite labour policy processes. It has positioned itself as a convening intermediary between workers, trade unions, government regulators, employers/brands, and international donors, with growing emphasis on just transition, gender-based violence prevention (e.g., SWAPNO II with UNDP), and ethical supply chain due diligence (Decent Work Due Diligence Bangladesh project).

Name

Bangladesh Labour Foundation - BLF

Legal name

Bangladesh Labour Foundation

Website

https://blfbd.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Bangladesh Labour Foundation (BLF) is a Dhaka-based non-profit founded in 2001 that delivers labour rights programmes across RMG, tannery, informal, and emerging sectors, funded by international donors and governments. It works with trade unions, government agencies, and global partners on child-labour elimination, trade union strengthening, ethical supply chains, and just transition.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Dhaka

HQ country

Bangladesh

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donor Funding and Grants: BLF operates as a non-profit NGO funded by international development organizations, governments, and foundations. Funding supports programmes on labour rights, child labour elimination, worker empowerment, and supply chain due diligence.

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Bangladesh Labour Foundation (BLF) is a non-profit labour rights organization that delivers programmes on policy advocacy, worker empowerment, trade union strengthening, corporate accountability, and research. It works across formal and informal sectors in Bangladesh—including ready-made garments, leather, footwear, construction, transport, domestic work, and agriculture—to address child labour, occupational safety, gender-based violence, and social compliance. BLF's outputs include research publications, training manuals, policy contributions, and National Plans of Action funded by international donors and development partners.

Product overview

Bangladesh Labour Foundation (BLF) is a non-governmental, non-profit labor rights organization established in 2001. Rather than a technology product company, BLF offers a portfolio of advocacy programs and policy interventions focused on labor rights protection. Its core programs include Policy Advocacy & Legal Reforms, Worker Empowerment & Trade Union Strengthening, Corporate Accountability & Ethical Supply Chains, Sector-Specific Labour Rights Interventions, Social Protection & Economic Security, and Research, Awareness & Campaign. BLF also produces training materials, research publications, and contributes to National Plans of Action for child labour elimination and social compliance in industries such as ready-made garments, leather, and tannery sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Policy Advocacy & Legal Reforms A programme service that conducts advocacy and lobbying to influence policy and strengthen laws and regulations protecting children and workers; designed for governments, employers, worker organizations, and stakeholders in Bangladesh's industrial sectors.
• Worker Empowerment & Trade Union Strengthening A programme service that strengthens trade unions through capacity building, training, and resources to enhance advocacy for workers' rights and improve labour conditions across RMG, leather, footwear, construction, and other sectors in Bangladesh.
• Corporate Accountability & Ethical Supply Chains A programme service that supports ethical supply chain practices and corporate accountability through research, capacity building, and DWDD project implementation for brands, retailers, manufacturers, and employers sourcing from Bangladesh.
• Sector-Specific Labour Rights Interventions A programme service delivering targeted initiatives addressing labour rights, child labour elimination, gender equality, and occupational safety across formal and informal sectors including RMG, leather, footwear, tannery, and domestic work.
• Social Protection & Economic Security A programme service that organizes forums and stakeholder networks to enable collaboration, resource sharing, and strategy alignment on social protection and economic security for workers.
• Research, Awareness & Campaign A programme service delivering research, awareness campaigns, and evidence-based studies on labour issues, child labour, and modern slavery to inform policies and advocacy efforts.

Quantifiable outcome

• Supporting vulnerable children through prevention, rescue, rehabilitation, and education-focused interventions across high-risk sectors.
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• International Labour Organization (ILO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2026Tripartite collaboration with Ministry of Labour and Employment and DIFE on National Plan of Action on Child Labour 2026-2030. ILO serves as key development partner in labour rights initiatives.
• Ministry of Labour and Employment (MoLE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2026Government ministry leading tripartite collaboration on National Plan of Action on Child Labour 2026-2030 with DIFE and ILO.
• Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2026Government inspection body working with BLF on tannery sector National Plan of Action for Social Compliance and child labour initiatives. Joint implementation with BLF and stakeholders including DC Dhaka, Upazila Parishad, Police, BSCIC.
• Child Labour Elimination Platform (CLEP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 June 2026National platform where BLF serves as active member, co-organizing World Day Against Child Labour events with Ministry of Labour and Employment.
• SKOP (Sramik Karmachari Oikya Parishad) and IBC (IndustriALL Bangladesh Council)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 February 2026National Trade Union Centres convening strategic sharing meetings to operationalize National Alliance for Just Transition Bangladesh (NAJTB). BLF contributes to this worker-led national platform advancing just transition in Bangladesh.
• MondiaalFNVcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Strategic partner supporting BLF's work in Keraniganj Informal RMG sector for child labour elimination. BLF with support of MondiaalFNV has been working to get recognition for Keraniganj informal RMG as an industrial sector with approximately 300,000 workers.
• Stop Child Labour Coalition and SOMOcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Stop Child Labour Coalition commissioned SOMO to conduct research on wage levels and working conditions in export-oriented garment industry, with BLF as implementing partner in Bangladesh.
• SMEP Project ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBLF as consortium partner contributing to strengthening environmental compliance, improving occupational safety and workers' rights, and promoting sustainable business practices within the Savar Tannery Estate. The SMEP Project worked over 21 months improving environmental and social conditions.
• United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNDP supports BLF's SWAPNO II Programme initiative to strengthen awareness and capacity of factory management and workers' representatives for preventing gender-based violence and advancing decent work.
• Fair Wear Foundation and GIZcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint implementation of Preventing Gender-Based Violence in the RMG industries project, promoting Anti-Harassment Committee establishment.
• Decent Work Due Diligence Bangladesh (DWDD) ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBLF encourages ethical corporate practices through research, capacity building, and DWDD project implementation for responsible business conduct.
• Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-stakeholder initiative working on ethical supply chains with BLF as member of ETI Bangladesh.
• FEMNETminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfrican women's organization network supporting gender equality and women's rights programmes.
• The Asia FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational development organization supporting research and programmes on labour issues in Bangladesh.
• Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman political foundation supporting labour and social dialogue programmes.
• GoodWeave InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization working to end child labour in global supply chains.
• FairWear FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrand-owned organization working with brands, retailers, and manufacturers to improve working conditions.
• Global March Against Child LabourcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal network working to prevent and eliminate child labour.
• WWF BangladeshminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental organization supporting sustainable practices in supply chains.
• ElevateminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupply chain sustainability services provider.
• Dignity InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational organization working on economic and social rights.
• Wage IndicatorminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization providing wage data and collective bargaining support.
• IBC Women's CommitteecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWomen's committee of IndustriALL Bangladesh Council collaborating on International Women's Day events and women's rights initiatives.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• International Labour Organization (ILO): UN specialised agency setting global labour standards and supporting Bangladesh through tripartite collaboration with BLF. Functions as a regulator, convener and donor rather than a direct peer NGO.

Direct peers

• GoodWeave International: Organisation working to end child labour in global supply chains through certification and remediation. Already a partner of BLF; shares the same child-labour-elimination mission across South Asian supply chains.
• Solidaridad Network: International civil society organisation working on responsible supply chains across Asia, Africa and Latin America. Comparable mission on decent work, ethical sourcing and smallholder/informal-sector inclusion.
• Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI): Alliance of companies, trade unions and NGOs promoting workers' rights worldwide; ETI Bangladesh is a current BLF partner. Highly comparable as a multi-stakeholder labour-rights platform with Bangladesh operations.
• Worker Rights Consortium (WRC): Independent labour rights organisation focused on apparel supply chains, supporting worker-driven monitoring and factory investigations. Directly comparable to BLF's garment-sector worker empowerment and accountability work.
• SOMO (Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations): Dutch research and advocacy organisation investigating multinational corporate conduct, including garment supply chains in Bangladesh. Already a BLF research partner; comparable evidence-based advocacy model.
• Fair Labor Association (FLA): Multi-stakeholder initiative conducting independent monitoring, worker voice programmes, and supply-chain remediation in apparel and agricultural supply chains. Comparable mission around labour rights verification and brand accountability.
• Better Work Programme (ILO/IFC): ILO/IFC joint programme improving labour conditions and compliance in garment factories across Bangladesh and other sourcing countries. Highly comparable in sector focus (RMG), stakeholder model (brands, factories, unions, government), and Bangladesh footprint.
• Global March Against Child Labour: International coalition working to end child labour through advocacy, awareness, and partnerships. Currently a partner of BLF; comparable global child-labour-elimination mandate and stakeholder model.

Regional players

• BRAC: Bangladesh-headquartered international development organisation running programmes across education, economic empowerment and rights. Operates in the same country and overlapping worker/community segments but with a broader development mandate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCIdF47BY9_CuYaoNLOaAP_A?sub_confirmation=1
• Facebookfacebook.com/blfbd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/blfbd
• Instagraminstagram.com/blf.bd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Bangladesh Labour Foundation - BLF