ERD, ILO sign 2 accords on skill dev, worker rights
The government has initiated a move to generate employment for 1.5 million people in apparel and other sectors by grabbing the opportunities, created following shifting of export orders in an increased volume from China, a senior official said Thursday.
“The government is moving forward with a thorough skill development plan, so that the country can create at least 1.5 million jobs through grabbing the orders shifted from China,” said Economic Relations Division (ERD) secretary Abul Kalam Azad.
He said this at an agreement signing ceremony between the ERD and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) on development of skills and promotion of worker rights and relations at the ERD conference room.
Two agreements were signed between the government and the ILO for funding projects titled ‘Bangladesh Skills for Employment and Productivity (B-SEP)’ and ‘Promoting Worker Rights and Labour Relations in Export Oriented Industries in Bangladesh’.
The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and Norway will provide Tk 1.75 billion (US$ 22 million) as grant to implement the projects. Of the total amount, the CIDA will give $ 19.5 million and Norway $ 2.5 million.
The ERD secretary said the fund will bring a big change in developing skills, working environment and labour relations as well as in export sector.
He said the ILO has taken this privilege because now all the development partners are eager to support Bangladesh in its export arena.
Development partners are eager to support so that issues like fire safety, health hazards, working conditions and wages etc can be quickly addressed, Mr Azad added.
The B-SEP project will be implemented by the Directorate of Technical Education during 2013-16 period.
The ‘Promoting Worker Rights and Labour Relations in Export Oriented Industries in Bangladesh’ project will be implemented by the labour ministry during 2013-14.
The major activities under the projects will include organising trainings as well as motivational and awareness building programmes for fresh people, intending to enter the export sector.
The programmes will be implemented with the involvement of the industry people, the government and non-government organisations.
ILO Country Director Srinivash B Reddy said the skills development project seeks to enhance the skills of Bangladeshi people for their better and decent employability.
“These people are the most deserving people, as otherwise they cannot access various skills development programmes. This programme will improve their accessibility.” The ILO chief said the project will also address the demand and supply gap of skill requirement in different industries.
-With The Financial Express input
