Labour and employment minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury hands over a crest to the director-general of the International Labour Organisation Gilbert F Houngbo at a meeting in Geneva in Switzerland on Wednesday. | Press release
Labour and employment minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury paid a courtesy call on the director-general of the International Labour Organisation Gilbert F Houngbo in Geneva in Switzerland on Wednesday.
Ariful Haque, also expatriates’ welfare and overseas employment minister, praised the leadership and contribution of the ILO in establishing decent work, social justice and workers’ rights at the meeting, said a press release.
He also reiterated the commitment of the Bangladesh government to democracy, human rights and labour rights.
Welcoming the ILO’s initiative to form a global alliance for social justice, the minister called for further expansion of ILO’s cooperation in entrepreneurship development and employment generation among marginalised communities.
Highlighting the progress of labour sector reforms and the formation of the National Tripartite Consultative Council, Ariful mentioned, ‘Bangladesh has so far ratified 39 ILO conventions and has become the first country in Asia to ratify all the fundamental ILO conventions.’
He expressed hope for a positive resolution of the case filed against Bangladesh at the ILO.
The minister invited the ILO DG to visit Bangladesh and inspect the ongoing labour sector reform activities and initiatives taken for the welfare of workers.
Gilbert Houngbo expressed interest in the progress of the ongoing labour sector reform activities in Bangladesh and appreciated the long-standing partnership of the ILO with Bangladesh.