United News of Bangladesh

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Monday reaffirmed his government's commitment to protecting workers' rights, improving workplace safety and implementing international labour standards during a meeting with International Labour Organization (ILO) Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo. The courtesy meeting was held at the Prime Minister's Office in the Bangladesh Secretariat, said a press release issued by the Prime Minister's Press Wing. During the meeting, Houngbo said Bangladesh's commitment to labour sector reforms and implementation of international labour standards has been receiving positive recognition internationally. The Prime Minister thanked the ILO for its continued support and said his government places the highest priority on protecting workers' rights, ensuring safe working condition and implementing international labour standards, the press release said. The ILO Director-General expressed his organisation's readiness to further expand cooperation with Bangladesh to support labour sector development. The two sides discussed a wide range of issues, including strengthening social protection for workers, enhancing skills development, creating more employment opportunities and building a skilled workforce capable of meeting the demands of the evolving global labour market. They also exchanged views on the progress of Bangladesh's readymade garment sector, workplace safety, development of the informal labour market and the country's achievements in implementing international labour standards. Both sides stressed the importance of expanding cooperation between the government and the ILO to advance ongoing labour sector reforms.

International Labour Organization (ILO) Director-General Gilbert F Houngbo arrived in Dhaka on Sunday morning on a two-day visit to Bangladesh. Houngbo is scheduled to hold a courtesy meeting with Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury today, and meet Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Monday, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Labour and Employment. Discussions during the visit are likely to cover the improvement of labour standards, workplace conditions, workers' rights, social protection, skills development and labour market issues in Bangladesh, sources concerned said. Talks are expected to particularly focus on the ready-made garment sector, the informal labour market and the implementation of international labour standards. Houngbo, a national of Togo in West Africa, took office as the 11th director-general of the ILO in October 2022. He is the first African to lead the organisation in its century-long history.