ILO hails working conditions progress in Bangladesh

Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Guy Ryder praised the progress made by Bangladesh to improve working conditions and grow its economy.

“Since 2013, Bangladesh has come a long way to make its garment industry safer and to improve working conditions. We can be positive about the progress made, but the job is not yet finished,” he said while speaking at a joint press conference, concluding his four-day visit to Bangladesh.

State Minister for Labour and Employment M Mujibul Haque also addressed the press conference, held at a city hotel on Tuesday.

During his stay, Ryder met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and also

discussed a variety of work-related issues with different ministers and workers’ and employers’ organisations as well as development partners.

The ILO DG took part in the Ninth Global Forum for Migration and

Development and the Dhaka Summit on Skills, Employability, and Decent Work 2016 held as part of the ILO’s Future of Work initiative.

He also attended the launch of a new ILO project funded by Sweden and Denmark which aims to build social dialogue and harmonious industrial relations in the Ready-Made Garment (RMG) industry.

Responding to journalists at the press conference, Ryder lauded the economic development of Bangladesh saying that the country’s “achievements have been considerable”.

He, however, noted that the economic dynamism should be matched by social progress, with fair sharing of the benefits of growth across population as the nation moves towards middle income status.

Referring to various steps taken by the government, employers and the workers’ representatives for creating decent jobs and ensuring workers’ safety, the ILO chief said the country could enjoy the benefits of these initiatives for future economic development.

M Mujibul Haque told journalists that the government has taken effective steps for developing a skilled workforce to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while protecting the workers’ rights as well.

He said the government also signed an agreement with the European Union (EU) and ILO to initiate a project named “Skill 21 - Employing Citizens for Inclusive and Sustainable Growth” for modernising the existing technical and vocational training system.

“The project will help the country to get the middle income status,” he added.

Source: BSS