Representatives of employers and workers of 33 shrimp processing factories in Khulna discussed and provided feedback on a labour compliance checklist for shrimp processing factories during two training workshops conducted by ILO on 16-17 September and 21-22 September, respectively. 

The checklist is designed to promote a voluntary self-assessment of the shrimp processing industry of their compliance with national labour standards and to address identified gaps.  The checklist will be finalized after the Bangladesh Frozen Food Exporters’ Association (BFFEA) and the Khulna Department of Inspections of Factories and Establishments (DIFE-Khulna) have reviewed it and provided their inputs.  The proposed checklist compliments a range of other efforts being implemented under the ILO project “Improving Labour Law Compliance and Building Sound Labour Practices in the Export Oriented Shrimp Sector in Bangladesh” which is funded by the Government of Bangladesh.

Shrimp export is an important trade sector for Bangladesh, and for the southern part of the country in particular. The sector is striving to grow and compete with its regional competitors while prioritising product quality and labour compliance.  The two-day training workshop “Capacity building training on Fundamental Labour Rights and Workplace Cooperation” during which the checklist was discussed, also looked at one of the sector’s key challenges in respect of fundamental principles and rights at work: freedom of association and social dialogue.   The participants openly and constructively discussed the concept of social dialogue while appreciating the country’s perspective of economic and social progress.  The training workshops were closely supported by the BFFEA and the Khulna-DIFE.

ILO is also working with DIFE at the national level to develop a labour inspection checklist that will be used by DIFE inspectors when they visit factories and establishments. This will have elements tailored to specific industries such as shrimp, tea and ship building.