'Workers should get equitable share of wealth they create'

Professor Dr Gowher Rizvi on Thursday said workers should be equal partners and they must be given equitable share of the wealth they create.

The International Relation Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister said it while speaking as Chief Guest at a function titled the National Dialogue on the Future of Work.

The dialogue, held at the BICC in the capital for celebrating 100 years of the ILO, was jointly organised by the Ministry of Labour and Employment and the ILO.

The event brought together high-level government officials and representatives from workers’ and employers’ organisations to examine the present conditions of work and employment in Bangladesh, and also to seek solutions for future challenges.

Begum Monnujan Sufian, state minister of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, chaired the event.

Foreign Secretary, Md Shahidul Haque; Labour Secretary, Mr K M Ali Azam; Secretary of the Ministry of Law, Mr Naren Das, Deputy Regional Director of ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Ms Panudda Boonpala; and Country Director of ILO Bangladesh, Mr Tuomo Poutiainen, were present among other high officials.

They stressed the need for bringing reforms in the labour administration to improve safety, welfare and access to justice for workers.

Policy recommendations on the alignment of national legislations with international labour standard, revitalisation of tripartite consultation and social dialogue, eradication of child labour and forced Labour, and investment in skills development came out at the dialogue as well.

Dr Rizvi, at the event also congratulated the ILO on its 100th anniversary.

He said, “ILO stands prominent by serving humanity for the last century. Today not only do we celebrate what ILO has done but what the organisation will do in future”.

Begum Monnujan Sufian said, “There is increasing use of automation, artificial intelligence and robotics in enterprises. To address the challenges that may rise from these technological changes, harmonious cooperation between workers and employers is important.”

Ms Panudda Boonpala thanked the government, workers and employers organisations, as well as development partners for working towards decent work in the country.

She said, “We hope that Bangladesh will ratify Convention 138 on the Minimum Age for working and Convention 29 on Forced Labour, and by doing so this nation will complete the ratification of all core labour standards of the ILO.”

Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque wrapped up the programme underscoring the important policy recommendations proposed by the distinguished speakers.

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