ILO chief begins 2-day Bangladesh visit

International Labour Organization (ILO) Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo arrived in Dhaka on Sunday on a two-day official visit.

During the visit, Houngbo is scheduled to hold a courtesy meeting with Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury on Sunday and meet Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Monday, according to the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

The discussions are expected to focus on improving labour standards, workplace conditions, workers’ rights, social protection, skills development and labour market issues in Bangladesh.

The talks will also cover the ready-made garment sector, the informal labour market and the implementation of international labour standards.

A national of Togo, Houngbo assumed office as the 11th director-general of the ILO in October 2022 and is the first African to lead the organisation.

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.