ZCZC
BSS-45
ILO-NATIONAL-DIALOGUE
Ratification of ILO’s minimum age convention stressed
DHAKA, Nov 28, 2019 (BSS) – Policy recommendations on the alignment of national legislations with international labour standard, revitalisation of tripartite consultation and social dialogue, eradication of child labour and forced labour, and investment in skills development came out of a national dialogue today.
The National Dialogue on the Future of Work was held in Dhaka, celebrating 100 years of the ILO. The event was jointly organised by the Ministry of Labour and Employment and the ILO at the BICC here.
The national dialogue brought together high-level government officials and representatives from workers’ and employers’ organisations to examine the present conditions of work and employment in Bangladesh, and also to seek solutions for future challenges, said an ILO press release.
Chaired by State Minister for Labour and Employment Begum Monnujan Sufian, the event was addressed, among others, by International Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister Prof Dr Gowher Rizvi, Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque, Labour Secretary KM Ali Azam, Law Secretary Naren Das, Executive Chairman of National Skills Development Authority Md Faruque Hossain, Additional Secretary of Technical and Madrasah Education Division (TMED) AKM Zakir Hossain Bhuiyan, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Dr Ahmed Munirus Saleheen, Inspector General of the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) Shib Nath Roy, Director General of the Department of Labour AKM Mizanur Rahman, President of Bangladesh Jatiya Sramik League Fazlul Haque Montu, Chairperson of National Coordination Committee for Workers Education (NCCWE) Md Anwar Hossain, Member Secretary of NCCWE Dr Wazedul Islam khan, General Secretary of Jatiya Sramik Jote Naimul Ahsan Jewel, President of Bangladesh Employers Federation (BEF) Kamran T Rahman, Secretary General of BEF Farooq Ahmed, Committee Member of BEF Tahmid Ahmed, Deputy Regional Director of ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific Panudda Boonpala, and Country Director of ILO Bangladesh Tuomo Poutiainen.
Speaking as the chief guest, Dr Gowher Rizvi congratulated the ILO on its 100th anniversary.
He said, “ILO stands prominent by serving humanity for the last century. Today not only do we celebrate what ILO has done but what the organisation will do in future. Unfortunately, labour is still often seen as a commodity. Workers should be equal partners and this can be done by giving them equitable share of the wealth they create.”
Monnujan Sufian spoke about the reform in the labour administration to improve safety, welfare and access to justice for workers.
“I would like to acknowledge the support of the ILO in our journey since 1972. There is increasing use of automation, artificial intelligence and robotics in enterprises. To address the challenges that may rise from these technological changes, harmonious cooperation between workers and employers is important,” she said.
Labour Secretary Ali Azam said: “The ILO brings tripartite representatives of the government, workers and employers to promote social justice and decent work. Effective functioning of this tripartite cooperation is essential for achieving equality and sustainability.”
Panudda Boonpala thanked the government of Bangladesh, workers and employers organisations, as well as development partners for working towards decent work in the country.
She said, “We hope that Bangladesh will ratify Convention 138 on the Minimum Age for working and Convention 29 on Forced Labour, and by doing so this nation will complete the ratification of all core labour standards of the ILO.”
BSS/PR/MRI/BR/1938 hrs