Advancing Decent Work in Bangladesh project launched to support labour sector reforms

The "Advancing Decent Work in Bangladesh" project, a collaborative initiative between the Government of Bangladesh (GoB) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) was launched today. 

The project aims to support the implementation of the government’s labour sector reform commitments. These reforms support good governance, safeguarding of fundamental principles and rights at work, and sustainable and competitive enterprises – all of which are crucial for Bangladesh's smooth transition from the Least Developed Country (LDC) status in 2026.

The project, with a funding of US$24.7 million over the next four years, is under the Team Europe Initiative on Decent Work in Bangladesh by the European Union, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Sweden.

"We are committed to playing our part in supporting social justice, in promoting labour reforms in Bangladesh, and securing decent work for men and women in all industries and sectors of the economy," said Md. Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, MP, State Minister, Ministry of Labour and Employment. 

Labour Secretary Md. Mahbub Hossain highlighted Bangladesh's recent election as a member of the Governing Body of the ILO, stating that "this demonstrates our strong commitment and to further advance reform initiatives in relation to ensure the welfare of our workers and decent workplace for them."

Tuomo Poutiainen, Country Director ILO, highlighted the importance of effective tripartism to support a smooth transition from LDC status in 2026, stating that “fundamental principles and rights at work can only be safeguarded through transparent and consultative processes with workers’ and employers’ organizations”.

Team Europe was represented by Charles Whiteley, Ambassador of the European Union; Alexandra Berg von Linde, Ambassador of Sweden; Anders Karlsen, Head of Cooperation, Embassy of Denmark; and Thijs Woudstra, Head of Cooperation, Embassy of the Netherlands. In their respective remarks, they highlighted key reform areas vital to uphold labour rights and support Bangladesh's continued global market competitiveness after the LDC graduation. 

Charles Whiteley commended ongoing initiatives by the Government of Bangladesh: “We welcome the Government’s commitment to labour reforms, and we are eager to support these efforts in creating new success stories in the crucial few years to come – stories of decent work uplifting individuals, strengthening communities, and driving a sustainable economic growth in Bangladesh.”

Canadian High Commissioner Lilly Nicholls announced that Canada would join the Advancing Decent Work initiative through a complementary project, pending the Government of Bangladesh’s approval. Once officiated, this will further amplify the labour sector reforms, while also introducing additional support for the employment injury scheme pilot in the garments sector. 

At the event were also representatives from workers’ and employers’ organizations who are key partners for the project’s implementation. Chowdhury Ashiqul Alam, Member Secretary for the National Coordination Committee of Workers Education, (NCCWE) and Ardashir Kabir, President, Bangladesh Employers Federation (BEF), both offered their support and commitment to the project stating the importance of continued social dialogue between all tripartite constituents in the labour reform process.