Bangladesh, ILO and the EU and its Member States reaffirm their commitment to advancing decent work in the country
Partners agree new development project to improve decent work opportunities as well as to strengthen business sustainability and competitiveness.
DHAKA (ILO News)- The Government of Bangladesh, the ILO and representatives of the European Union, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Sweden have signalled their continued commitment to advancing decent work in Bangladesh through the signing of a Letter of Intent (LoI) for a joint development project “Advancing Decent Work in Bangladesh” in Dhaka on 11 May.
The proposed project, covering the period of 2023-2027 with an estimated total budget of 23 million Euro, reflects the shared priorities of the Government, employers’, and workers organizations in Bangladesh. Mr. Tuomo Poutiainen, Country Director ILO, stated that it “aims to support more female and male workers enjoying decent work through improved policies and laws, accountable, gender-responsive and inclusive labour market institutions; and sustainable business practices contributing to the competitiveness of industries”.
Speaking at the event, the Honorable Labour Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment Mr. Ehsan-E-Elahi, said, “the project aligns with national development frameworks, including the Roadmap and National Action Plan on the Labour Sector (2021-2026), and contributes to the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF, 2022-2026), ILO Decent Work Country Programme (2022-2026) and the Sustainable Development Goal targets.” He assured that in the next four years, the Government will support project implementation to promote decent working conditions and equal access to opportunities for all, but also to advance national ambitions around economic growth and international trade. On behalf of the Government of Bangladesh, he expressed his appreciation for the support of the ILO and the EU and its Member States in efforts to achieve this goal.
The signing was witnessed by H.E. Helena König, the Deputy Secretary-General of the European External Action Service for Economic and Global Affairs who called the signing “a pioneering commitment of the EU Global Gateway strategy by the Team Europe Initiative on Decent Work to support sustainable growth and inclusive human development in Bangladesh as the country moves to graduate from LDC status in 2026”.
Ms. Gwyn Lewis, UN Resident Coordinator to Bangladesh, also witnessed the signing and added that “the joint efforts of the Government of Bangladesh, the ILO and the Team Europe Initiative will contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 8, which calls for the promotion of sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all”.
