Government stresses formation of Tripartite Consultative Council to boost sustainability in leather industry

The government has emphasized the formation of a Tripartite Consultative Council (TCC) for the tannery sector to strengthen social dialogue and ensure sustainable development of Bangladesh’s leather industry.

The call was made during a discussion titled “Status Quo of the Tannery Sector in Bangladesh”, organized by the Leather Development Forum (LDF) in the city on Tuesday. 

Matiur Rahman, Project Director and Joint Inspector General of DIFE, delivered a presentation on the tannery sector experiences of Turkey, following his recent visit to the country.

The discussion was moderated by Md. Firoz Alam, Head of the GoTan Project, GIZ Bangladesh, and chaired by Omar Md. Imrul Mohsin, Inspector General (Additional Secretary), Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE).

Dr. Md. Sanwar Jahan Bhuiyan, Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment, attended the event as the Chief Guest.

Speaking there, labour secretary Mr Bhuiyan emphasized the need for a Sector Development Strategic Plan to ensure the sustainable growth of Bangladesh’s tannery industry.

“Such a plan should be developed collectively by all relevant stakeholders. Once formulated, the government will be able to base its future initiatives for this sector on that strategic plan,” he said.

In his remarks, Omar Md. Imrul Mohsin, Inspector General of DIFE, underscored that the formation of a Tripartite Consultative Council (TCC) for the tannery sector is among the government’s priority initiatives to enhance coordination among workers, employers, and government representatives.

He noted that such a platform would help identify policy gaps, promote decent work, and strengthen compliance across the industry.

The discussion brought together representatives from development partners, workers, employers, civil society organizations, and national and international stakeholders.

Participants exchanged views on key issues such as environmental compliance, occupational safety and health, workers’ welfare, and the long-term sustainability of the tannery sector.

The event concluded with a collective call for enhanced collaboration between government agencies, industry actors, and development partners to make Bangladesh’s tannery sector globally competitive while upholding environmental and social standards.

Munni_fe@yahoo.com