Geneva: Labour and Employment Adviser Brigadier General (Retd) Dr M Sakhawat Hossain today sought mutual cooperation among all development partner countries to ensure a decent working environment for workers. He is currently on a visit to Geneva to participate in the 353rd Governing Body meeting of the International Labour Organization (ILO).
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Dr Hossain made this appeal while exchanging views with members of the ILO’s Governing Body in Geneva, Switzerland. Referring to the historic Student-People’s Mass Uprising in July-August 2024, he emphasized the interim government’s firm commitment to aligning the working environment with international labour standards.
The Bangladesh Mission in Geneva organized the program, which saw participation from four ministers representing Japan, Tanzania, Niger, and Malawi. Ambassadors and high commissioners from 20 countries, including the United States, India, Canada, Australia, Mexico, Japan, Oman, the Philippines, Nepal, the Netherlands, and Mozambique, as well as representatives from international workers’ and employers’ organizations, were also present.
During the meeting, Dr Hossain discussed the overall improvement of labour conditions in Bangladesh, with a focus on workers’ rights protection. He highlighted that approximately 70 percent of women workers in Bangladesh are engaged in the ready-made garment industry, contributing significantly to women’s empowerment and economic emancipation.
The adviser also attended a dinner with the Labour and Employment Secretary, the Permanent Representative of the Bangladesh Mission in Geneva, and guests from 20 states.