BEPZA inks deal with ILO on two-year action plan

Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) inked an agreement with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) on Monday on a two-year action plan for harmonising legislation and amending certain internal processes within the EPZs, reports BSS.

In presence of Chief Adviser's Special Envoy for International Affairs Lutfey Siddiqi, BEPZA Executive Chairman Major General Abul Kalam Mohammad Ziaur Rahman and ILO Country Director for Bangladesh Tuomo Poutiainen signed the agreement on behalf of their respective sides at the BEPZA complex in the city.

Lutfey Siddiqi expressed his satisfaction on the action plan saying, "It is time bound, constructive, celebrative, and it has designed the feature which we can start as a pilot and then we can expand."

Ziaur Rahman said this 'Two Year Action Plan' includes reformation of the EPZ Labour law in line with international labour standards, Responsible Business Conduct (RBC) to facilitate the ethical business practices in the supply chain, the Employment Injury Scheme (EIS) and capacity building of BEPZA Officials for more effective Labour Administration and Inspection.

Moreover, he said, BEPZA and ILO will collaborate on exploring possibilities of advancing skills of workers.

This initiative will play an important role in improving labour standards in Bangladesh by ensuring basic rights and social security of the workers in the zones and creating a safe and secure working environment, he added.

He said this initiative will also increase the confidence of international buyers and investors, which will further strengthen the country's export and industrial capacity as well as improve the safety, healthcare and social protection system of workers.

It will be helpful in building a sustainable industrial sector and economic growth of the country, he added.

He said BEPZA aims to become a significant contributor for the economic development of Bangladesh by strengthening the economic base through industrialisation, promotion of investment, boost up export and generation of employment.

Over the years, Ziaur Rahman said, BEPZA's growth has been very significant and created a model for others to follow.

He, however, mentioned that BEPZA has been playing a pivotal role in ensuring workers' rights, workplace safety and social protection. EPZ workers receive 30-40 per cent more benefits compared to non-EPZ workers, he added.