Working without an appointment letter: the risk, and what the letter should say

Under section 5 of the Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006, no employer may employ a worker without giving an appointment letter and a photo identity card. For work that falls under this Act, the letter is your right, not a favour.

Whether a particular post or organisation falls under the Act can vary. If you are unsure about your own situation, ask a lawyer or an organisation that works on labour rights.

• If pay or a bonus is held back, it is hard even to prove that you worked there.
• The salary that was agreed can later be claimed to have been lower.
• If the job ends, claims for dues — notice pay, provident fund, gratuity — rest on weak ground.
• Proving experience for a bank loan, a visa or the next job becomes difficult.

• Your name, job title and joining date.
• Gross salary and its breakdown (basic, house rent, other allowances).
• The length of probation.
• Working hours and leave rules.
• The notice rules for resigning or termination.
• The employer's name, address and an authorised signature.

"It would help me to have the appointment letter before I join" — said politely, that is enough. Keep the letter and every pay document (payslips, bank statements) together.

When you review an employer on ChakriKemon you can say whether it gives appointment letters. The percentage is shown only once at least three people have answered, so no one can be identified.