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The International Labour Organisation (ILO) and Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) on Monday signed an agreement on a two-year action plan aimed at harmonising legislation and amending certain internal processes within the EPZs.
"In that way, we are working on the Bangladesh Labour Act (BLA), and we are also collaborating with BEPZA and the relevant government agencies to maintain and advance the reform process and ensure alignment," Tuomo Poutiainen, ILO Bangladesh country director, said at a press meet held Monday at his office in Dhaka.
This action plan will help fast-track or push forward the reforms that have been discussed for quite some time, he added.
Speaking at the meeting, Mr Poutiainen said Bangladesh needs to invest in higher-skilled migration and regular migration practices in contrast to low-skilled, irregular, or vulnerable labour migration, which is associated with issues such as unfair recruitment practices, lack of transparency, high costs, and insufficient protection for migrant workers.
"Bangladesh should develop mechanisms to enable workers to migrate at a higher skill level."
Stressing proper training, he said that recruitment processes should also be transparent and affordable.
"It is crucial that migrants have clear and accurate information at every step of the migration process," he added.
Migrants must give free and informed consent and be assured of employment before departure, he said while explaining the ILO's activities during his decade-long tenure here in Bangladesh.
Once employed, the outgoing ILO country director said migrants should have the ability to discuss their working conditions and experience positive migration outcomes.
"Bilateral agreements with destination countries are essential to ensuring a protected and beneficial migration experience."
Returning migrants should come back with recognised skills they can apply for the benefit of Bangladesh, he added.
He also talked about the progress in Bangladesh so far, especially in the garment sector and the need to expand the safety programmes in other non-RMG sectors.
Munni_fe@yahoo.com