Dhaka, Sep 2 (IANS) Dependence on cheap labour and long working hours in Bangladesh may mean high productivity and help in maintaining global competitiveness of its products, but gains are "transitory", says an ILO study.

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has ranked Bangladesh among the top six economies in the world in terms of annual working hours.

Citing the example of the Asian "miracle economies," the study notes that the comparative advantage based on the intensive use of cheap and relatively unskilled labour was "transitory in nature," news agency BD News reported.

Focusing on the low labour costs, the ILO study said countries that try to exploit their comparative advantages of low labour costs by restricting wages may end up in a vicious cycle of low productivity, deficient training and a lack of skilled jobs. "And thus unable to compete effectively in the markets for skill-intensive products," it added.

The ILO study showed that between 20 to 35 percent of the employed workforce put in more than 50 hours on the job per week, Bangladesh Observer said.

Bangladesh is among the economies where long working hours are the norm. However, long working hours and bad conditions have led to agitations, large-scale violence and destruction, especially in the readymade garments and apparels factories - Bangladesh economy's mainstay in exports.

The government and the international labour agencies have often had to intervene to ease the volatile situation.

In the report by its director general made at the 14th Asian regional meeting in Busan, South Korea, the ILO called for new initiatives aimed at eliminating "decent work deficit".