Only 15pc work in formal sector out of 75m

Staff Reporter :

Bangladesh has around 75 million workers, but only 15 percent are employed in the formal sector, with the remaining 85 percent in the informal economy.

This data was shared by Brigadier General (Retd) Dr. M Sakhawat Hossain, Advisor to the Ministry of Labor and Employment, during a bilateral meeting with Keith E. Sonderling, U.S. Deputy Labor Minister, in Geneva on Wednesday.

Dr. Hossain noted that the interim government is working to ensure fair wages, decent working conditions, job safety, and maternity leave across all sectors.

The meeting covered labor cooperation between the two countries, focusing on worker rights, safety, skills development, and particularly the ready-made garment (RMG) sector.

He outlined Bangladesh’s ongoing labor reforms, including labor law amendments, easier trade union registration, and a stronger labor inspection system.

He warned that construction firms not contributing to the central fund as required would be excluded from government contracts.

Dr. Hossain also highlighted youth employment, noting that 60 percent of the population is young, and Bangladesh now ranks second globally-after India-for online jobs and freelancing.

Both government and private sectors are investing in skill-building programs to create more jobs.
Sounderling commended Bangladesh’s labor sector progress and offered U.S. technical support for future initiatives. Dr. Hossain expressed optimism about deeper labor cooperation between the two nations benefiting Bangladeshi workers.

Also attending were Labor Secretary AHM Shafiquzzaman, BEPZA Chairman Major General Abul Kalam Mohammad Ziaur Rahman (NDC, PSC), and Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Tarek Md. Ariful Islam.