Dhaka, Bangladesh (CU)_ Bangladesh’s determination to adhere to International Labor Organization (ILO) norms have been well received. According to the media, during a view-exchange conference with Mahbub Hassan Saleh, Bangladesh’s Ambassador to the European Union, MEPs from the European Parliament’s trade committee expressed optimism over the country’s success to date as well as the transparency about the challenges ahead.
According to trade committee members, their meeting with the ambassador of Bangladesh was a breath of fresh air. They desired a solid and transparent connection across the political spectrum. Maximilian Krah, Identity and Democracy group member, remarked, “I welcome the fact that Bangladesh is open enough to share its problems with us”. Additionally, he referred to Bangladesh as a success tale.
Bangladesh completely accepted the International Labor Organization’s (ILO) agreement on labor standards in March, setting a minimum working age of 14 years. Bangladesh has also developed a progressive National Action Plan in accordance with a road map agreed upon with the European Union. The European Commission declared that initiatives against child labor are ongoing, with the number of labor inspectors slated to increase by five times from 300 to 1,500 by the end of 2023.
Child labor has been deemed unlawful in a growing number of jurisdictions, and it is anticipated to be eliminated entirely by 2025. Next year, a project to eradicate hazardous child labor should be accomplished. The definition of hazardous labor has been broadened, with the goal of saving 100,000 children from working in dangerous settings. According to Mahbub Hassan Saleh, one of the major issues is efficiently reaching out to such a large population with extensive informal employment.
Local action supported the national government initiatives such as the establishment of a hotline and new labor tribunals. Bangladesh has retained a cordial relationship with the EU for the past 49 years, and the Ambassador told MEPs that the nation has expanded the use of trade rights and development assistance. The committee plans to visit Bangladesh in July to inform MEPs firsthand how much the nation has benefited from its collaboration with the EU. Emmanouil Fragkos at the ECR group referred to Bangladesh as, “A pioneer and an example for other countries”.
