Bangladesh has called for investment in skill development and reducing costs from demand and supply sides respectively for safe and humane international migration.
"International migration needs to be safe, regular and humane. From demand side, targeted investment in skills is needed and on the supply side, migration costs should be reduced," state minister for labour Monnujan Sufian said on Monday.
Decent jobs for the youths remain critical, she said, adding: "We need to invest more in youth for developing their skills. Focus must be on lifelong learning."
She also stressed on ensuring gender equality, strengthening social protection, respecting social dialogue, and guaranteeing rights at work.
The state minister was speaking at the plenary session of the 108th International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva, according to a labour ministry statement issued in Dhaka on Tuesday. The ILC started on June 10 and will end on June 22.
The world of work is changing fast, she said, while new technology, shifting demography, migration and climate change are the key drivers.
"However, every change comes with new opportunities and challenges. In managing the changes, we must keep people at the centre of all," she added.
Many jobs would be lost for new technology, she said, expecting at the same time that many new ones would be created. "Skill development as well as effective education and human development policies would be crucial."
Micro, small and medium enterprises must be promoted and connected to the global value chain, she suggested.
The state minister also informed the session about Bangladesh's measures for ensuring workplace safety. She said Bangladesh Labour Act adopted in 2006 has been updated twice - in 2013 and in 2018.
Recently, the country has also amended the EPZ Labour Act, making both the Acts more labour-friendly now.
For ensuring workplace safety in readymade garment sector, a Remediation Coordination Cell was launched in 2017 to oversee remediation of the RMG factories, she said, adding that Bangladesh would turn it into a permanent Industrial Safety Unit shortly.
© 2024 - All Rights with The Financial Express
