Staff Reporter :
Brig Gen (Retd.) Dr. M Sakhawat Hussain, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Labor and Employment and Shipping, held a bilateral meeting with US Deputy Secretary of Labor Keith E. Sonderling on the sidelines of the International Labour Conference at the International Labour Organization (ILO) Headquarters in Geneva on Thursday.
The meeting focused on deepening cooperation between Bangladesh and the United States in the labor sector, with special emphasis on protecting workers’ rights, improving workplace safety, ensuring fair wages, and developing workforce skills.
Key discussions included joint initiatives to enhance labor conditions in Bangladesh’s ready-made garment (RMG) sector a vital contributor to the country’s economy and measures to ensure fair compensation and safety standards for workers.
Dr. Sakhawat highlighted a range of reforms initiated by the Bangladesh government to improve labor rights, including the expedited amendment of the labor law, easier trade union registration, and a stronger labor inspection regime. He emphasized that these steps reflect the government’s commitment to establishing a fair, safe, and sustainable working environment across all sectors, including RMG, ship-breaking, and construction.
He warned that large construction firms failing to deposit required dividend contributions to the central welfare fund will be barred from participating in government procurement, reinforcing the government’s zero-tolerance stance on non-compliance.
The adviser also underscored Bangladesh’s demographic advantage, with a significant youth population actively engaged in the growing ICT sector. He noted that online jobs and freelancing are creating new employment opportunities, supported by government and private initiatives focused on skill development.
Praising the progress Bangladesh has made, US Deputy Secretary Sonderling expressed interest in providing technical assistance to further advance labor standards and workforce development in the country.
The meeting was attended by Secretary of the Ministry of Labor and Employment AHM Shafiquzzaman, BEPZA Chairman Major General Abul Kalam Mohammad Ziaur Rahman, and Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to Geneva, Tareq Md. Ariful Islam.
