ILO Country Office in Bangladesh (CO–Dhaka)

What's new

1. 

   Press release

   One year after Rana Plaza: A Year of Shared Efforts to ensure safer working conditions for RMG workers

   A high level discussion and experience sharing programme was held to commemorate one year anniversary of Rana Plaza. The Government of Bangladesh and International Labour Organizatiol jointly organize the programme. The commemoration of one year anniversary of Rana Plaza programme was aimed at sharing experience of last 12 months, progress made so far and to explore the way forward.

2. 

   Press release

   Employers’ Seminar on Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining emphasizes training on rights and responsibilities.

   Dhaka – Employers’ organizations expressed their full respect for freedom of association and collective bargaining at a high-level meeting here, organized by the BGMEA, BKMEA and BEF, with senior representatives of the Government of Bangladesh and the ILO.

3. News on ILO's Work

   Towards a safer garment industry in Bangladesh

   On 24 April 2013, the garment factory building "Rana Plaza" collapsed, killing more than 1,100 workers and injuring 2,500. One year after the global garment industry's worst-ever industrial accident, the ILO together with the government of Bangladesh, employers, trade unions and the international community are working together to make sure it never happens again.
   

4. Press release

   ILO Deputy DG welcomes advance payments to Rana Plaza survivors and victims' families

   Initial disbursements of TK 50,000 (US$ 645) made to survivors and families of those who died in the Rana Plaza building collapse in April 2013.

5. 

   Press release

   Officials of over 140 newly registered RMG sector Trade Unions receive Orientation on Freedom of Association

   Leaders of 141 newly registered trade unions of the RMG factories along with leaders of over 80 trade union federation in Bangladesh received a day long orientation on issues like collective bargaining and freedom of association.

6. 

   Visit

   UK's Minister Visits Rana Plaza Survivors Rehabilitation Programme

   Visiting UK’s Minister of State for International Development, Alan Duncan praised and expressed his satisfaction at the progress made by the Rana Plaza Survivors Rehabilitation Programme in last one year, during a visit to Savar and termed the stories of the survivors as ‘Inspiring’.

1. 

   Website of DIFE and RMG Sector Database Launched

   Website of the newly upgraded ‘Department of Inspection of Factories and Establishment’ has been launched on 30 April 2014, at an inauguration ceremony held at the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

2. © Sarah-Jane Saltmarsh 2014

   Video

   A father, a mechanic, a trainer, an entrepreneur and disabled – in that order

   Ask anyone in Tongi about Mosharrof Hossain and they’ll tell you he’s the man to fix your fridge. What they probably won’t tell you is that he will do it without hands.

3. 

   Press release

   Norway funds effort to strengthen labour rights, improve occupational health and safety for 4,000 Bangladeshi workers in garment, leather and shrimp sectors

   “Decent Work and fair globalization are important and related objectives on the Norwegian Government’s agenda. Everybody must enjoy basic workers’ rights, work in an environment where standards are respected, and receive their share of the wealth created,” stated H E Ms Merete Lundemo, Ambassador of Norway to Bangladesh

4. 

   Press release

   Union registrations rise sharply in Bangladesh garment sector: New labour laws pave way to improve conditions, workers’ rights

   Dhaka, Bangladesh

   The 30 labour officials examined recent changes to labour laws in Bangladesh, which will promote workers’ rights, and facilitate the registration of new trade unions.

5. Press release

   ILO welcomes the upgrading of the Bangladesh Labour Inspectorate

   Dhaka, Bangladesh

   The ILO welcomes the decision of the Government of Bangladesh to upgrade the Chief Inspector of Factories and Establishments office to a ‘Directorate’. With this upgrade, the number of labour and factory inspectors will increase to a total of 575 from the current 183 positions.

6. Press release

   New Labour Inspectors on board to ensure compliance

   Dhaka, Bangladesh

   To achieve sustainable reform in labour inspection system in Bangladesh, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the program “Promotion of Social and Environmental Standards in the Industry” (PSES), implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), joined hands to develop capacity of the newly recruited labour inspectors of the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE).

7. 

   Press Release

   98 to 8000 formal apprentices in three years: Bangladesh's success in learning and earning

   Dhaka, Bangladesh

   A total of 8000 apprentices across Bangladesh recently completed skills apprenticeships under the TVET Reform Project, supported by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and funded by the European Union (EU). Just three years ago, the number was only 98 apprentices registered under the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET). The Centre of Excellence for Leather has also received funding from the Swiss Development Corporation and USAID’s PRICE programme.

8. 

   Feature articles

   Breaking gender stereotypes in Bangladesh

   5 December 2013

   Nupur Howlader is Bangladesh's only nationally-qualified female welder. An ILO-EU skills training programme has given her the chance to both earn a better living and challenge gender stereotypes

9. 

   Press release

   RMG building safety inspections to start tomorrow after major breakthrough

   Dhaka, Bangladesh

   Inspections of all export-oriented Ready Made Garment (RMG) and knitwear factory buildings in Bangladesh will start tomorrow, 22 November 2013.

10. © Farzana Hossen/ ANADOLU AGENCY 2013 2014

    Working conditions

    ILO report presents a path to sustainable growth in Bangladesh

    The new study by the ILO's Research Department presents a series of policies to achieve both economic growth and decent working conditions in Bangladesh

    1. ILO Report - Bangladesh: Seeking better employment conditions for better socioeconomic outcomes
11. 

    Bangladesh

    A tireless pursuit of change
    

    It was past midnight. Four days into my job as the new Director of the ILO Country Office in Bangladesh. Ten days after the Rana Plaza building collapse, which killed more than 1,100 garment factory workers.
    
    A high level mission from ILO headquarters had been in the country for several days and we had been in discussions since morning, shuttling between unions, employers and government and were close to agreement on the joint statement we would issue the next day.
    
    

12. ©  © Munir Uz Zaman / AFP 2013 2014

    Bangladesh

    Emerging from the ruins of Rana Plaza

    Dhaka, Bangladesh

    Six months on from the Rana Plaza building collapse, the ILO is helping survivors develop new skills and find jobs. Three workers who survived the tragedy talked to ILO News about their way back into employment.

13. 

    Press release

    Major ILO programme aims to make Bangladesh garment industry safer

    Dhaka, Bangladesh

    The US$24m programme has been developed with government, workers and employers in Bangladesh, in response to a number of accidents that have hit the country’s ready-made garment industry.

14. Workplace safety

    ILO to launch major new programme to improve garment factory safety in Bangladesh
    

    The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Government of Bangladesh will launch a new programme to improve working conditions in the ready-made garment (RMG) sector in Bangladesh, on Tuesday 22 October in Dhaka.

15. 

    Press release

    Getting skills and jobs to Bangladesh's poorest

    Dhaka, Bangladesh

    People from rural Gazipur and remote North Bengal, Bangladesh’s poorest region, are now being employed in the readymade garments sector after completing a 3-month skills training programme. The project is a partnership between Far East Knitting & Dyeing Industries, IDLC Finance, the ILO TVET Reform Project, Gazipur Technical School and College, Care Bangladesh and Shiree.

16. Press release

    Bangladesh Minimum Wages Board returns from study tour to Cambodia and Viet Nam

    Dhaka, Bangladesh

    Members of the Minimum Wage Board returned to Dhaka on Friday from a study tour to Cambodia and Viet Nam. The aim of the study tour was to better understand the approaches taken in other countries in order to inform the Board’s on-going negotiations on a new minimum wage for Bangladesh’s 4 million garment workers.

17. 

    Press release

    Pakistan learning lessons from Bangladesh in structuring informal apprenticeships

    Dhaka, Bangladesh

    A five-day visit of fourteen high-level officials from Pakistan’s public and private sector concluded today. The officials were here to learn about how the government and industry are working together to structure apprenticeships in Bangladesh’s informal sector, in trades such as motorcycle servicing, mobile phone servicing, tailoring and dressmaking.

18. 

    New report

    New ILO report finds global number of child labourers falls

    A new ILO report has found that the global number of child labourers has declined by one third since 2000, with the largest absolute decline in the Asia Pacific region.

    1. Read the report
19. © ILO/K. Cassidy 2014

    Bangladesh factory conditions

    ILO, partners aim to improve conditions in Bangladeshi garment industry
    

    In New York, the ILO has signed new agreements with the Netherlands, UK and Canada to respond to recent accidents in Bangladesh.

20. 

    National Workshop

    Construction Sector: Challenges & Opportunities for Transitioning from the Informal to the Formal Economy

    The ILO Sub-regional Project titled ‘Way out of Informality: Facilitating Formalisation of Informal Economy in South Asia’ facilitated a day long National Workshop on the Construction Sector: Challenges & Opportunities for Transitioning from the Informal to the Formal Economy’ was held on 21 September, 2013.

21. 

    Press release

    Apprenticeships for youth employment

    Dhaka, Bangladesh

    Informal apprenticeships are an effective way to ensure youth employment and empowerment, high-level officials from the ILO, BRAC and the Ministry of Primary & Mass Education stated this week. The comments were made after almost 1000 learners from UNICEF’s Basic Education for Hard to Reach Urban Working Children (BETRUWC) programme successfully completed a six-month BRAC & ILO skill training programme and have just started work in the informal economy.

22. 

    Joint press release

    Action Plan Development for Rana Plaza victims

    Dhaka, Bangladesh

    Stakeholders in Bangladesh’s garment industry have developed strategies to strengthen the rehabilitation of garment factory workers and their families affected by the Rana Plaza building collapse.

23. 

    Press release

    Assessment of garment factories to begin to ensure building, fire and electrical safety

    Dhaka, Bangladesh

    The adoption of common safety standards in Bangladesh’s ready-made garment factories has come a step closer, following a meeting of national tripartite partners, the Alliance and Accord and other key stakeholders in the industry.

24. 

    Training In the proposed overseas employment and migrant workers' bill, 2013 and dialogue on role of recruitment association
    

    Dhaka, Bangladesh

    The event organized by the SDC funded Labour Migration Project of the International Labour Organization (ILO) was attended by the 13 members of the BAIRA Executive Committee. The event, combining training, review and dialogue methods was held to take up three issues: provisions and analysis of the proposed Overseas Employment and Migrant Workers' Bill, 2013; a dialogue on the role of an association of the recruitment agents/agencies; and the need for code of conduct and regulatory mechanism.

25. Assessment of structural integrity and fire safety of RMG factories to begin in September

    Dhaka, Bangladesh

    Representatives of the Government of Bangladesh, employers’ and workers’ organizations and the International Labour Organization (ILO) agreed on Wednesday that initial structural integrity and fire safety assessments of buildings housing RMG factories will begin in September

26. Media advisory

    ILO to mark entry into force of Maritime Labour Convention on 20 August
    

    To mark the day, the ILO will organize a panel with high-level representatives of seafarers, ship-owners and port authorities from Singapore's maritime sector, and Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, Director of the ILO International Labour Standards Department, who is the key ILO expert on the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC 2006).

27. © AFP/M. Uz Zaman 2014

    Interview with the Director of the ILO Country Office in Bangladesh

    The Rana Plaza building collapse… 100 days on

    A number of initiatives have been launched in response to the Rana Plaza building collapse in Dhaka, Bangladesh, which expand upon ILO action following previous accidents in the country. The Director of the ILO Office in Dhaka, Srinivas B. Reddy, explains what these initiatives are and the steps that have been taken on the ground.

28. Press release

    ILO Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific concludes four day mission to Bangladesh

    The International Labour Organization (ILO) Assistant Director-General and Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, Mr. Yoshiteru Uramoto, today concluded a series of meetings with the Bangladesh Government and employers' and workers' organizations in Dhaka, as part of his mission to ILO member states in the region.

29. Workplace safety

    Bangladesh Government, employers and workers organizations sign integrated national action plan on fire safety and structural integrity in the garment sector

    Dhaka, Bangladesh

    The Government of Bangladesh and representatives of Bangladesh employers’ and workers’ organizations today signed an integrated National Tripartite Plan of Action on Fire Safety and Structural Integrity in the garment Sector of Bangladesh (NTPA) on 25 July

    1. ILO, EU, Bangladesh government adopt new compact on garment factory safety
    2. First meeting of high level committee on building and fire safety in RMG factories
    3. The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ILO sign 2.5 million USD agreement to support improved labour conditions in Bangladesh
30. © EyePress News 2014

    International labour standards

    ILO statement on reform of Bangladesh labour law

    Amendments to the Bangladesh labour Act 2006 were adopted on 15 July 2013. Its conformity with international labour standards ratified by Bangladesh will be reviewed by the ILO supervisory machinery later in the year.

31. 

    Safe migration

    Intergovernmental regional seminar on promoting cooperation for safe migration and decent work

    Dhaka, Bangladesh

    The Ministry of Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment (MEWOE) called upon the member states of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and the countries of destination to undertake a collective analysis of the issues that affect labour migration governance on 02 July 2013 at Ruposhi Bangla Hotel, Dhaka.

32. 

    Interministerial meeting

    Interministerial meeting to review the proposed draft of the overseas employment policy 2013
    

    14 July 2013, Dhaka, Bangladesh

    An inter-ministerial meeting was held by to review the proposed draft of the Overseas Employment Policy 2013. The meeting was attended by 18 ministries, divisions and departments.

33. 

    Multistakeholder workshop

    Multistakeholder workshop to share the proposed overseas employment policy 2013
    

    11 July 2013, Dhaka, Bangladesh

    The International Labour Organization (ILO) facilitated a day-long workshop organized by the Ministry of Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment (MEWOE) to share the first draft of the proposed Overseas Employment Policy 2013. The initiative comes under the Project “Promoting Decent Work through Improved Migration Policy and its Application in Bangladesh”, which is funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)

34. 

    Regional seminar

    Technical preparation workshop for intergovernmental regional seminar
    

    30 June 2013, Dhaka, Bangladesh

    The Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare an overseas Employment (MEWOE) of the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh has invited the member states of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), some countries of destination, East Asian countries and the SAARC Secretariat in Dhaka from 01-02 July 2013 to participate in an intergovernmental regional seminar for promoting cooperation for safe migration and decent work.

35. 

    Workplace safety

    ILO, EU, Bangladesh government adopt new compact on garment factory safety

    10 July 2013

    The new compact aims to improve health and safety, labour rights and responsible business conduct in Bangladesh’s ready-made garment industry.

36. © ILO/S. Saltmarsh 2014

    Press release

    Working for a higher skilled garments sector in Bangladesh: Using corporate social responsibility to bridge the gap between training and employment

    Gazipur, Bangladesh

    Gazipur Technical School and College (TSC) today celebrated the graduation of the first batch and the inauguration of the second batch of sewing machine operator trainees in a new corporate social responsibility partnership. The partnership brings together Gazipur TSC, CARE Bangladesh, IDLC, Far East Knitting, Interfab Shirt Manufacturing, TRZ Group and the International Labour Organisation with the goal of improving the skills of Bangladeshi workers.

37. 

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

    15 June 2013, Dhaka, Bangladesh

    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).

38. 

    Signing ceremony

    MOU signed between the ILO and the Government of Bangladesh

    30 May 2013, Dhaka, Bangladesh

    The Government of Bangladesh signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the International Labour Organization (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 (2012-16). 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.
    

39. 

    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.
    

40. 

    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.

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

    Dhaka, Bangladesh

    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.

42. 

    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.
    
    

43. 

    Press release

    The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ILO sign US$5 million 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 (approximately US$2.5 million) for promoting workers rights and labour relations in export oriented industries in Bangladesh.
    

44. Joint media advisory

    Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ILO to Sign US$2.5 Million 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 (approximately US$2.5 million) for promoting workers rights and labour relations in export oriented industries in Bangladesh.

45. © AFP/M. Uz Zaman 2014

    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.

46. © AFP/M. Uz Zaman 2014

    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.

47. © AFP/M. Uz Zaman 2014

    Media advisory

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

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

48. © AFP/M. Uz Zaman 2014

    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.