Inclusive workplace policies, culture essential for social, economic justice

Business Report:

An effective national policy on equality is required to promote inclusion through fair recruitment practices and anti-discrimination measures in Bangladesh to ensure that no one willing to work is excluded from the job market, Speakers said at a national dialogue in the capital.

The dialogue, organized by ILO, the Bangladesh Business and Disability Network and Bonhishikha on Monday in the capital to commemorate Labour Day, highlighted the importance of inclusion in the labour market and celebrated voices of resilience and change in the workplace, said a media release.

“We gather to recognise the resilience, ambition, and rights of all workers, especially those whose voices have too often gone unheard. The importance of equal opportunities for all women and men cannot be overstated as Bangladesh charts a new future for its people,” said ILO’s Country Director Tuomo Poutiainen.

Speakers acknowledged that discrimination persists, structurally and unconsciously, calling for clear policies and a change in culture and mindsets.

“Effective inclusion can only be achieved based on labour rights; this must be the foundation of inclusion and equality,” said Badal Khan, workers’ representative and Chairman of the National Coordination Committee for Workers’ Education (NCCWE).

Labour and Employment Adviser Brigadier General (Retd) Dr M Sakhawat Hussain closed the dialogue by emphasizing enforcement of the law, especially in the issue of sexual violence and harassment of women, saying the consequences for such actions would be dire.

Women and Children Affairs and Social Welfare Adviser Sharmeen S Murshid highlighted the issue of women’s safety at home, during commutes to and from work, and at work as a key factor for the inclusion of women in the workforce.