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The government plans to incorporate the recommendations made by the Labour Reform Commission and make required amendments to the labour law by July.
Also the labour inspection system will be digitized and brought under real-time monitoring framework.
Ministry of Labour and Employment (MoLE) Secretary AHM Shafiquzzaman made the remarks at a validation workshop on 'labour inspection assessment' jointly organised by the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) on Wednesday. The event aims to present and validate the findings and recommendations from a comprehensive assessment of the country's labour inspection system.
The secretary announced significant reforms aimed at modernising and strengthening labour inspection mechanisms.
Highlighting the ministry's reform agenda, he said, "Efforts will be made to bring labour inspection activities under an effective monitoring framework. Key services and activities of DIFE and the Department of Labour will be fully digitized, enabling real-time monitoring by the highest authority of DIFE and MoLE."
He emphasised the transformative role of data and technology in labour governance, stating that this digital system will also facilitate timely and need-based interventions through enhanced research and data analysis at the workplace.
He further noted the necessity of institutional strengthening and added to ensure more effective labour inspections, it is important to expand the organogram to allow for new inspector recruitment as well as increased promotion opportunities for existing officials.
Inspector General of DIFE Omar Md Imrul Mohsin reiterated the department's commitment to modernisation and said the collaborative efforts of MoLE, DIFE, and ILO are crucial for sustained and effective labour inspection and capacity building to achieve a safer and more equitable working environment in Bangladesh.
ILO Bangladesh Country Director Tuomo Poutiainen stressed the importance of continuous evaluation and evidence-based approaches to labour inspection. "To ensure effective labour inspection, it is vital to continuously evaluate where we stand and identify the key challenges facing the labour inspectorate," he said.
In a context of limited resources, utilizing accurate inspection data to prioritize actions is crucial, he added.
At the beginning of the event, Joint Inspector General of DIFE Md Matiur Rahaman emphasised the importance of identifying existing gaps in the current labour inspection system and addressing them with effective solutions to restructure the inspection mechanism in a way that truly serves the welfare of working people.
munni_fe@yahoo.com