Germany pledges full support for Bangladesh labour rights
Germany has assured Bangladesh of all-out support in implementing labour laws and ensuring workers’ rights.
German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development Vice Minister Dr Barbel Kofler gave the assurance during a courtesy meeting with Labour and Employment and Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury at the Ministry of Labour and Employment today.
German Ambassador to Bangladesh Dr Rudiger Lotz, Pabna-5 lawmaker Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas, Labour and Employment Secretary Md Abdur Rahman Tarafdar and relevant officials were present at the meeting.
During the meeting, the labour minister said the government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, was committed to ensuring decent work, workers’ welfare and productive employment.
He said ensuring fair and safe working conditions, labour rights, social dialogue and opportunities for skills development were among the government's top priorities.
The minister said amendments to the Bangladesh Labour Act had been passed during the first session of the Jatiya Sangsad.
He added that Bangladesh had recently adhered to International Labour Organization (ILO) Conventions 155, 187 and 190. Initiatives to ensure effective implementation of the amended law through revisions to the Labour Rules were also underway.
Regarding the Employment Injury Scheme (EIS), the minister said it had been operating on a pilot basis in the ready-made garment sector since June 2022.
Under the scheme, workers and their families receive monthly compensation in cases of disability or death resulting from workplace accidents. The scheme has now been expanded to export processing zones (EPZs) and the leather and footwear sectors.
He said work was underway to determine an appropriate financing mechanism to introduce the scheme nationwide, expressing gratitude to the German government for its cooperation in this regard.
Dr Barbel Kofler praised the government's initiatives to implement labour laws and said Germany would extend all-out support to Bangladesh in implementing the law to ensure workers' rights.
She further said no business model could be sustainable without decent work. German consumers are now conscious of the health and working conditions of workers involved in garment production, she added.
Senior officials of the Ministry of Labour and Employment were also present at the meeting.
