The Country Director for International Labour Organisation (ILO) Tuomo Poutiainen recently maintained that despite the progress made, Bangladesh still needs to work towards improving labour administration, labour inspection, and workers’ rights.
“The ILO recognises the need for workers and employers to talk about these issues competently, and therefore it has capacity building processes in place, not only for trade unions but also for employers,” Tuomo said, adding, “We believe and promote that workplace safety is better when there is better workers’ voice.”
Speaking to the media in an event in capital Dhaka, the ILO Country Director reportedly further maintained, “The environment has improved, as there has been such a big investment in promoting workers’ voice, particularly in the garment industry. Is it sufficient? No, it’s not. There is need to create space for workers to be able to genuinely express their voice and concerns, not only on safety but on any matter. The ILO is very much invested in the issues of employment and skill development. There are more than two million young people coming into the labour market every year and they need to have decent work, hopefully in the formal economy. Even if it is in the informal economy, how can that work be safer and more productive is important”.
Poutiainen was also full of praises for the efforts of the Government and the stakeholders in improving the overall scenario of the apparel sector, especially in improving workplace safety.
“In a certain manner good things have happened since Rana Plaza and they continue to happen. If you talk about sustaining change, a very positive trajectory of change has commenced. Now, it is time to continue that trajectory,” Poutiainen reportedly underlined.