Bangladesh Seeks Expanded ILO Cooperation to Advance Labor Reform and Social Justice

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Bangladesh’s Minister of Labour and Employment, Ariful Haque Chowdhury, met with International Labour Organization (ILO) Director-General Gilbert Houngbo in Geneva to discuss strengthening collaboration on labor rights, social justice, and employment reform. During the meeting, the Minister underscored the need for expanded technical support to bolster skill development, entrepreneurship, and the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) among marginalized communities.

In an official statement, the Ministry of Labour and Employment described the discussions as cordial, highlighting a mutual commitment to advancing sustainable labor management and the empowerment of vulnerable populations. Minister Chowdhury reaffirmed the Bangladesh government’s dedication to democracy, human rights, and labor standards, noting that the country has ratified 39 ILO conventions. Notably, Bangladesh holds the distinction of being the first country in Asia to ratify all fundamental ILO conventions.

The Minister briefed the Director-General on the significant progress of national labor reforms, including the establishment of a dedicated labor rights reform commission and the restructuring of tripartite institutions. Through the National Tripartite Consultative Council, the government is actively working to align national legislation with international labor standards. Furthermore, the Minister expressed hope for an amicable resolution to the ongoing Article 26 complaint against Bangladesh.

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Welcoming the ILO’s “Global Coalition for Social Justice” initiative, Minister Chowdhury formally invited Director-General Houngbo to visit Bangladesh to observe firsthand the country’s progress in labor sector reforms and tripartite social dialogue. The Director-General expressed appreciation for the long-standing partnership between the ILO and Bangladesh, acknowledging the updates on reform initiatives and indicating that coordination regarding a potential visit would continue.

The meeting was attended by the Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Md. Abdur Rahman Torofdar, along with senior members of the Bangladeshi delegation and officials from the Permanent Mission in Geneva.