Dhaka:The government is actively working to expand employment opportunities both domestically and internationally, with a focus on workers' welfare and developing a skilled workforce in line with labor market demands, according to Md Ismail Zabihullah, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Public Administration and a National Standing Committee member of the BNP.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Zabihullah highlighted the government's prioritization of workers' welfare, skills development, and increased productivity of the working-age population, aligning with its electoral manifesto. These remarks were made during a meeting with a three-member delegation led by International Labour Organization (ILO) Country Director Max Tunon at the Bangladesh Secretariat.
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Dr. Md Saimum Parvez, was also present at the meeting. Zabihullah commended the ILO's efforts in promoting labor rights and improving working conditions. He noted the necessity for Bangladesh to adapt to technological advancements, particularly the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation in workplaces, and emphasized effective initiatives to create new employment opportunities and equip workers with necessary skills.
The meeting covered topics such as employment generation, workers' welfare, skills development, social protection, and the use of AI and automation. It also addressed preparations for graduation from the least developed country status and the need for inter-ministerial coordination. Max Tunon stressed the importance of improving employment quality, developing skills, creating jobs in coastal areas, expanding afforestation, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, while advocating for stronger government cooperation to enhance coordination and policy initiatives.
The meeting also discussed the role of the Governance Innovation Unit under the Prime Minister's Office in advancing these initiatives, with Tunon expressing optimism about the continued cooperation between the ILO and Bangladesh. The Director General of the Governance Innovation Unit, Dr. Delwar Hossain, and senior officials from the ILO Country Office in Bangladesh were in attendance.