DHAKA: International Labour Organization (ILO) handed over 95 motorbikes to factory inspectors aiming to boost the capacity of government officials to carry out inspections at garment factories
Mujibul Haque Chunnu, State Minister for Ministry of Labour and Employment received the motorcycles on behalf of the Bangladesh Government in a ceremony held in Dhaka on Wednesday.
The bikes will be used by the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE).
“The motorcycles will make it far easier for DIFE Labour Inspectors to carry out their jobs effectively. This equipment, coupled with long-term training and capacity building will contribute towards greater factory safety and improved conditions for workers in Bangladesh,” said the State Minister.
The motorcycles were provided by the Improving Working Conditions in the Ready Made Garment (RMG) Sector Programme which is an initiative of the Government of Bangladesh, implemented by the International Labour Organization and funded by Canada, Kingdom of the Netherlands and the UK Government.
Reiterating ILO’s commitment to strengthen the labour inspection system, the ILO Country Director for Bangladesh, Srinivas B. Reddy said, “DIFE needs the right equipment and right skills if it is to carry out the vital role entrusted to it. The hand over today of these motorcycles is part of a long-term undertaking to strengthen DIFE and I am confident that this equipment will ultimately benefit many thousands of workers throughout Bangladesh.”
The handover of motorcycles forms part of a three-year plan to strengthen the Bangladesh labour inspection system. In June this year 125 labour inspectors (114 men and 11 women) received ILO training on inspections as well as occupational safety and health. As part of the implementation of the National Tripartite Plan of Action (NTPA) on Structural Interiority and Fire Safety, the RMG Programme has also handed over equipment worth some USD 477,000 to Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) to carry out factory safety inspections.
The three-and-a-half year Improving Working Conditions in the Ready Made Garment (RMG) Sector Programme focuses on improving RMG factory building safety, workers’ rights and overall working conditions in Bangladesh. The initiative will run until December 2016.
Mikail Shipar, Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment; Syed Ahmed, Inspector General, DIFE; Heather Cruden, High Commissioner, Canadian High Commission in Bangladesh, Gerben Sjoerd de Jong, Ambassador, Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands in Bangladesh; and Robert W Gibson, High Commissioner, British High Commission to Bangladesh were present at the handover ceremony.
BDST: 0943 HRS, SEP 08, 2014
