Dr. Forqan Uddin Ahmed :
May 1 is widely known as International Labour Day, a day when we celebrate the contribution of workers worldwide. It is a moment for pride, celebration, and hope.
After three years of the Covid-19 crisis, followed by inflation, conflict, and food and fuel supply shocks, we badly need this. But the promises of renewal made during the pandemic, of “building back better,” have so far not been delivered for the great majority of workers worldwide.
Enterprises have been hard-hit. Many could not cope with the cumulative effects of recent unexpected events. Small and micro-enterprises were particularly affected, and many have ceased operations.
This, combined with a perceived lack of opportunities, has created a disturbing level of mistrust. It doesn’t have to be like this. We are still the masters of our fate.
But if we are to shape a new, more stable and equitable world, we must choose a different path – one that prioritises social justice.
First and foremost, our policies and actions must be human-centred, to allow people to pursue both their material well-being and their spiritual development in conditions of freedom and dignity, economic security, and equal opportunity.
This approach is not new; it was set out and agreed in the aftermath of World War II, when the ILO’s international membership signed the 1944 Declaration of Philadelphia.
But the greedy capitalists do not like to spare the day. Bangladesh came to birth with the progressive concept butno mentionable changes are yet to take place for the workersclass.
Now it has become a political showdown and flattery business. We see the bad intention of some interestedpeople where the workers are only used and sometimes abused. But May Day is internationally recognized. But its significanceis ignored.
And its importance is less taken. Virtually this day is a day of sacrifice, glory and struggle. This day is a milestone and red letter day to all workers of the world. The workers protested against ill treatment; duty hours and abouttheir legal rights. In the long run it was achieved. But it was always ignored.
The workers produce the industrial products but theindustrialists, capitalize their products. They are only used as atool of their capital. They are rather being oppressed.
It isreally a matter of misfortune that this workers class is alwaysconsidered helpless. Only they are treated as the slave.
But thismind-set has been changed now. There are many records in thehistory that no legal rights ended in smoke. The present worker classes are not the back benchers in the society as it was in thepast.
We need a Global Coalition for Social Justice. This coalition will create a platform to bring together a broad range of international bodies and stakeholders.
It will position social justice as the keystone of the global recovery, so that it is prioritized in national, regional and global policies and actions.
In sum, it will ensure that our future is human-centred. This visionary document set out guiding principles for our economic and social systems – that they should not be turned exclusively to hitting specific growth rates or other statistical targets, but to address human needs and aspirations.
This means focusing on inequality, poverty alleviation, and core social protection. The most effective way to do this is by providing quality jobs so that people can support themselves and build their own futures.
It means realistically addressing the long-term structural transformations of our time; ensuring that new technology creates and supports employment; proactively facing the challenges of climate change and ensuring we offer the jobs, skills training and transition support necessary for workers and businesses to benefit from the new low-carbon era; and treating demographic changes as a “dividend” rather than a problem, with supporting action on skills, migration and social protection, to create more cohesive and resilient society.
We also need to reassess and refashion the architecture of our social and economic systems, so that they support this change of course towards social justice, rather than continuing to channel us into a policy “doom loop” of inequality and instability. We must reinvigorate labour institutions and organizations so that social dialogue can be effective and vigorous. We must review laws and regulations affecting the world of work, so that they are relevant and up-to-date and able to protect workers and support sustainable businesses.
To make all this happen, we need to recommit to international cooperation and solidarity. We must enhance our efforts and create greater policy coherence, particularly within the multilateral system, as the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres calls it.
This is why we need a Global Coalition for Social Justice. This coalition will create a platform to bring together a broad range of international bodies and stakeholders. It will position social justice as the keystone of the global recovery, so that it is prioritised in national, regional and global policies and actions. In sum, it will ensure that our future is human-centred.
We have the chance to reshape the world we live in – economically, socially, and environmentally. Let us take this opportunity and move forward to build the equitable and resilient societies that can underpin lasting peace and social justice.
If workers are well privileged, economic condition of country will improve. If labour rights are established and their interest is uphold mass people will be benefitted.
Society will be ideal, resourceful, and peaceful. Gradually sufferings will be removed. The poor will be enlightened. Society will be civilized. There will be no more anarchy, chaos, confusion, discrimination and discomforts. Bangladesh will be spot free and there will be no bad name or image crises.
In the long run, Bangladesh will be self-reliant, happy and prosperous. Let us join our hands to keep up the dignity of labour and resist corruption and make our Bangladesh a strong and advanced country.
(The writer is former Deputy Director General, Bangladesh Ansar and VDP).
