CO–Dhaka

What's New

1. 

   Training for Trade Unions in International and National Labour Migration Regimes and Policy Frameworks

   15 June 2013, ILO, Dhaka

   On the 15 June 2013, the Labour Migration Project, conducted a day-long training in International and National Labour Migration Regimes and Policy Frameworks for the trade union members of the National Coordination Committee for Worker’s Education (NCCWE).

2. 

   Signing Ceremony

   MOU signed between the ILO and the Government of Bangladesh

   30 May 2013, ILO Dhaka

   The Government of Bangladesh signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) on 30 May, 2013 to assist implementation of the Bangladesh country component of the Project entitled Way out of Informality: Facilitating Formalisation of Informal Economy in South Asia for a period of of 5-years (2012-2016). Mr. Md. Ashadul Islam, Additional Secretary (UN, Economic Relations Division (ERD), Ministry of Finance, Government of Bangladesh and Mr. Srinivas Reddy, Director, ILO Country Office for Bangladesh signed the MOU.
   

3. 

   Workshop

   Knowledge Sharing & Planning Workshop

   The ILO Sub-regional Project titled Way out of informality: Facilitating formalization of informal economy in South Asia is going to organize a two-day Knowledge Sharing and Planning Workshop on 26 and 27 May, 2013 at the Hotel Sonargaon, Dhaka with the key stakeholders of the project.
   

4. 

   Press Release

   Bangladesh's Kamran T. Rahman Elected Vice President of the International Labour Conference
   

   The former head of the Bangladesh Employers Federation, Mr Kamran Rahman has been elected as a Vice-President of the 2013 International Labour Conference (ILC), the annual meeting of the membership of the International Labour Organization (ILO), the United Nations specialized agency that deals with work and work-place related issues.

5. First meeting of high level committee on building and fire safety in RMG factories

   DHAKA (ILO News) - The first meeting of the National Tripartite Committee formed to implement the National Tripartite Plan of Action on Building and Fire Safety in the Ready-Made Garment Sector in Bangladesh (NAP) was held on Thursday, 6 June 2013. The meeting, at the Ministry of Labour, was chaired by Mr Mikail Shipar, Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment. The Tripartite Committee brings together representatives of Government, workers’ and employers’ organizations, with the International Labour Organization (ILO) playing an advisory role.

6. 

   Stakeholder consultation on revision of the Overseas Employment Policy 2006 on 15 May 2013 at the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment
   

   The first stakeholder consultation to revise the Overseas Employment Policy took place on 15 May 2013 at the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment and was attended by about 65 representatives from civil society organizations, academic experts, workers’ and employer’s organizations.
   
   

7. 

   Press Release

   The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ILO sign 2.5 million USD agreement to support improved labour conditions in Bangladesh

   The Norwegian Minister for International Development Mr Heikki Eidsvoll Holmås and the International Labour Organization (ILO) Country Office Director Mr Srinivas Reddy signed an agreement today which will see the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs providing NOK 14.5 million (approx. 2.5 million USD) for promoting workers rights and labour relations in export oriented industries in Bangladesh.
   

8. Joint Media Advisory

   Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ILO to Sign 2.5 Million USD Agreement to Support Improved Working Conditions in Bangladesh

   The Norwegian Minister for International Development Mr Heikki Eidsvoll Holmås and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Country Office for Bangladesh Director Mr Srinivas Reddy will sign an agreement which will see the Norwegian Government providing NOK 14.5 million (approx. 2.5 million USD) for promoting workers rights and labour relations in export oriented industries in Bangladesh.

9. © Munir Uz Zaman / AFP 2013

   Workplace safety

   ILO welcomes accord on Building and Fire Safety in Bangladesh

   The ILO stands ready to provide appropriate support to the agreement signed by international fashion retailers along with other companies and trade unions to prevent workplace disasters.

10. © Munir Uz Zaman / AFP 2013

    Workplace safety

    Conclusions of the ILO's high level mission to Bangladesh

    Joint statement issued by the tripartite partners at the conclusion of the ILO's high-level mission sent to Dhaka, Bangladesh, following the Rana Plaza Building collapse.

11. © Munir Uz Zaman / AFP 2013
    

    Media Advisory

    The ILO and the government of Bangladesh to hold a press conference on Rana Plaza disaster

    DHAKA – The International Labour Office (ILO) and the Government of the Peoples’ Republic of Bangladesh will hold a joint press conference on the Rana Plaza disaster at 15.00 hrs. on Saturday 4 May 2013, at the conference hall, Minister of Foreign Affairs.

12. © Munir Uz Zaman / AFP 2013
    

    Workplace safety

    ILO to send high-level mission to Bangladesh following the Rana Plaza Building collapse

    ILO Director-General Guy Ryder says it is time for horror and regret to translate into urgent action

13. World Day for Safety and Health at Work:
    ILO calls for urgent global action to fight occupational diseases

    Press release, 26 April 2013

    According to a new ILO report, prevention is key to tackling the growing number of work-related diseases, which claim an estimated 2 million lives per year.

14. 

    Every skills development programme can include persons with disabilities: 7th plenary session on developing a National Strategy for Disability Inclusion in Skills Development in Bangladesh

    13 April 2013, Dhaka, Bangladesh

    The UN unanimously adopted the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) on 13th December 2006, which entered into force on 3rd May 2008. Bangladesh was one of the pioneering countries to ratify this Convention and is pledge bound to implement the human rights treaty in its entirety ensuring the rights of persons with disabilities in the country. Five years on we look at the progress which the Government of Bangladesh, supported by the ILO, is making to include persons with disabilities in the national skills development system.

15. 

    Fire Safety - Tripartite Partners Adopt National Tripartite Plan of Action on Fire Safety for the Ready-Made Garment Sector In Bangladesh

    25 March 2013, Dhaka, Bangladesh

    A devastating fire destroyed Tazreen Fashions Limited in November 2012 leaving 112 workers dead and many others injured. This immense loss of life shocked the world and spurred the tripartite constituents of the ILO - government, employers and workers - into developing a National Tripartite Plan of Action on Fire Safety for the Ready-Made Garment Sector in Bangladesh. A second successive fire at Smart Export Garments in January 2013 in which 8 workers died and others were injured underlined the need to take urgent action

16. 

    Scenario Planning for the Tourism and Hospitality Sector: Residential Workshop

    15 March to 16 March 2013, Dhaka, Bangladesh

    Sustainable tourism has been identified by the UN as an effective means to reduce poverty in developing countries. The hospitality and tourism sector is a key potential growth area for Bangladesh, however proper infrastructure, sectoral guidelines and skilled manpower are some of the major areas prohibiting growth.

17. 

    Policy Working Group Meeting on “The RMG sector in Bangladesh: Supplying Globally, Promoting Decent Work Locally”

    13 March 2013, Dhaka, Bangladesh

    The theme of the meeting was “The RMG sector in Bangladesh: Supplying Globally, Promoting Decent Work Locally”. The meeting was Co-chaired by Mr. Mikail Shipar, Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment and Mr. Amitava Chakraborty, Additional Secretary and Director General, WTO Cell, Ministry of Commerce. Mr. Gagan Rajbhandari, Officer- in- Charge, ILO Country Office for Bangladesh has delivered the welcome remarks in the meeting.

18. 

    Orientation Workshop for Dhaka Ahsania Mission Project Staff and Management
    

    12 March 2013, Dhaka, Bangladesh

    ILO executed Labour Migration project supported Dhaka Ahsania Mission conduct an Orientation Workshop to familiarize project staff and management with the implementation approach and methodology for implementing a pilot initiative to give top-up technical training and impart life skills and pre-departure information to equip the Bangladeshi workers who have made a decision to migrate for work in another country and to support left behind families of the migrant workers.
    

19. 

    Moving forward, empowering change in industries in Bangladesh: Leadership workshop

    25 February to 28 February 2013, Dhaka, Bangladesh

    In developing countries with rapidly expanding economies such as Bangladesh, it is imperative that industrial growth is supported by strong skill development systems that maximize the potential productivity of the workforce. Strong skill development systems require leadership by industry as well as the public sector, and the objective of this workshop is to further develop the leadership skills of key individuals.

20. 

    ILO Labour Migration Project office inaugurated on 11 March 2013
    

    11 March 2013, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

    The ILO Labour Migration Project office was jointly inaugurated on 11 March 2013 by the Honorable Minister of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment (MEWOE) and the Director-General of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) in the Ministry premises in the Probashi Kalyan Bhaban.

21. 

    Tripartite Consultation Workshop: "Building Knowledge-base and Promoting Rights of the Bangladesh Workers on the Move"
    

    06 February 2013, Dhaka, Bangladesh

    A Tripartite Workshop titled "Building Knowledge-base and Promoting Rights of the Bangladesh Workers on the Move" co-organized by the Human Development Research Centre (HDRC) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Dhaka. The workshop included a wide range of stakeholders representing private and public sector banks, civil society organizations, migrant workers associations, international organizations, media and the Ministry of Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment (MEWOE).

22. 

    Press Release

    Women with disabilities boost Chittagong's growing RMG sector

    Chittagong Mohila Polytechnic Institute this week inaugurated a new competency-based sewing machine operator’s training program for women with disabilities.
    Ambassador William Hanna, Head of Delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh inaugurated the program, with Mr Md Shahjahan Mian, Director General, Directorate of Technical Education and Mr Arthur Shears, Chief Technical Advisor, ILO TVET Reform Project in Bangladesh.
    The course is based on a model developed through the ILO TVET Reform Project that was first piloted successfully with the Directorate of Technical Education, Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralyzed and Interfab Shirt Manufacturing. The market driven vocational skills training course prepares the trainees for work as machine operators in Bangladesh’s quickly growing readymade garments (RMG) industry.

23. 

    Press Release

    New opportunities for persons with disabilities in Bangladesh

    Gazipur Technical School & College this week inaugurated a new sewing machine operator’s course which included persons with disabilities. The course is an important step towards meeting the growing skill needs of the quickly expanding readymade garments industry in Bangladesh.
    The readymade garments industry is one of the biggest export sectors in Bangladesh, making up USD 12.75 billion, or 79.33% of its total exports in 2009. Gazipur Technical School & College (TSC) is one of the first public institutions in Bangladesh to integrate persons with disabilities into formal readymade garments training programs.

24. 

    Press Release

    Tripartite Meeting on Fire Safety in the Workplace in Bangladesh

    Dhaka (ILO News)

    A tripartite meeting on fire safety in the work place in Bangladesh was organized jointly by the Ministry of Labour and Employment and the ILO on 15 January 2013. Following the daylong deliberations, a tripartite statement of commitment was adopted and signed at the meeting

25. 

    Meeting

    Working Together for the Rights of the Migrant Workers
    

    3 December 2012, Dhaka, Bangladesh

    Trade Unions hold a consultation to develop a common minimum agenda and a plan of action on the rights of the Bangladeshi migrant workers. The opening of the event was marked by the presence of not only the trade union leaders but also the representatives of the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment (MEWOE) and the Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA). Participation of all the Tripartite Constituents in the opening informed the discussions that followed during the day.

26. Press Release

    ILO’S Press Release on the tragic incident of fire in a garment factory at Ashulia

    Dhaka (ILO News)

    The International Labour Organization (ILO) is greatly shocked and saddened by the tragic incident of fire in a garment factory at Ashulia adjacent to Dhaka on 24 November 2012 that resulted in the unfortunate deaths of more than 100 workers. The ILO extends its sincere condolences to the bereaved families of the victims and conveys its sympathy to those injured due to the fire.