Dhaka – The government has launched a new project titled ‘Promoting Social Dialogue and Harmonious Industrial Relations’ aiming to improve workplace relations in the readymade garment (RMG) sector.
The project was launched during International Labour Organization (ILO) Director-General Guy Ryder’s four-day visit to Bangladesh that took place from December 10-13, 2016.The project focuses on three specific outcomes:
Developing social dialogue mechanisms and industrial relations between employers and workers, particularly at the workplace level, as a means for preventing disputes;
Developing a conciliation and arbitration mechanisms into a more credible, trusted and transparent system.
In achieving the above two outcomes, the project will focus intensively on building the capacity of workers and employers to engage in social dialogue and collective bargaining at the workplace, and sector level and to make effective use of the dispute prevention and resolution mechanisms.
Addressing media, he said: “Since 2013 Bangladesh has come a long way to make its garment industry safer and to improve working conditions. We can be positive about the progress made but the job is not yet finished.”
Reflecting on the economic development of Bangladesh, he added: “Your country’s achievements have been considerable. But as the nation moves towards middle income status it should seek to ensure that its economic dynamism is matched by social progress. A fair sharing of the benefits of growth across the population of Bangladesh will be important to the sustainability of the process.”
The launch was held of a new skills programme funded by the European Union which will continue reforms to the skills development sector.
In addition, a Memorandum of Intent between the Government of Bangladesh, the Netherlands, United Kingdom and the ILO was signed to continue their joint efforts to improve working conditions in the RMG sector.
This was witnessed by Canada, which along with the Netherlands and the UK has supported the earlier phase of these efforts.
He visited two RMG factories where he had the chance to see some of the work undertaken over the past three years to improve factory safety and talk with members of management, unions, workers and Safety Committees.
During his stay in Bangladesh, Mr Ryder also met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and also discussed a variety of work-related issues with Government ministers, workers’ and employers organisations as well as development partners.
He also took part in the Ninth Global Forum on Migration and Development and the Dhaka Summit on Skills, Employability, and Decent Work 2016 held as part of the ILO’s Future of Work initiative. – UNB
