DHAKA : Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today said that his
government is attaching the highest importance in protecting workers’ rights,
ensuring a safe working environment, and implementing international labour
standards, reports BSS.
The Prime Minister said this when International Labour
Organization (ILO) Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo paid a courtesy call on
him at his office in the Bangladesh Secretariat here this morning, said PM’s
Assistant Press Secretary Gazi Shahriar Pamir.
At the outset of the meeting, he said, the ILO director
general congratulated Tarique Rahman on assuming office as the head of the
government.
Houngbo said that international confidence in Bangladesh
had been further strengthened following the assumption of office by a
government elected through the direct votes of the people.
In this context, the ILO director general said the ILO is
interested in further strengthening its long-standing partnership with
Bangladesh and will continue to work closely with the government for the
development of the labour sector.
In response, the Prime Minister thanked the ILO for its
continued cooperation and said that his government is attaching the highest
importance to protecting workers’ rights, ensuring a safe working environment,
and implementing international labour standards.
The ILO director general also congratulated the Prime
Minister on the election of Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman as
President of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly
(UNGA).
He described the achievement as an important recognition of
Bangladesh’s diplomatic capability and credibility in the international arena.
Houngbo also highly praised the present government for
achieving other diplomatic successes at the international level within a short
period.
During the meeting,
the ILO director general said that Bangladesh government’s ongoing labour
sector reforms and commitment to implementing international labour standards
are being positively recognised globally.
The other areas which came up in discussion during the meeting includes workers’ protection,
skills development, expanding employment opportunities, and developing a
skilled workforce to meet the demands of the changing global labour market.
They also discussed the progress of Bangladesh’s ready-made
garment sector, workplace safety, the development of the informal labour
market, and Bangladesh’s achievements in implementing international labour
standards.
Both the sides stressed the importance of strengthening
cooperation between the government and the ILO to further advance the ongoing
labour sector reform initiatives.
They also exchanged views on ensuring the rights and
welfare of migrant workers, establishing a safe and orderly migration system,
and further strengthening cooperation in enhancing the skills of overseas-bound
workers.
During the meeting, Tarique Rahman reiterated his
government’s commitment to ensuring a worker-friendly and sustainable working
environment.
Besides, the ILO director-general expressed his commitment
to further expanding the organisation’s existing cooperation with Bangladesh
and working jointly for the development of the country’s labour sector.
Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury, Prime Minister’s Adviser Mahdi Amin, Secretary to the Labour and Employment Ministry Md. Abdur Rahman Tarafder, Director General (UN Wing) at the Foreign Affairs Ministry Md. Kamruzzaman, ILO Country Director in Bangladesh Max Tuñón and Senior Adviser to the ILO Director-General at the ILO Headquarters in Geneva, Hitomi Nakagome were present at the meeting.
