Adviser Brig Gen (retd) Dr M Sakhawat Hussain met with the labour ministers of the Asia Pacific Group (ASPAG) countries of the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Geneva. Photo: Collected

DHAKA, June 12, 2025 (BSS) - Labour and Employment Adviser Brig Gen (retd) Dr M Sakhawat Hussain held meeting with the labour ministers of the Asia Pacific Group (ASPAG) countries during the 113rd conference of the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Geneva.

According to an official release received here today, the meeting discussed on various issues including sustainable development, labour rights, protection of expatriate workers and facing the effects of climate change.

Dr Sakhawat at the beginning of the meeting thanked the ILO and Japan, the coordinating country of the Asia Pacific Group countries for holding such an important conference in Geneva.

He said that nearly 60 percent labourers of the global markets have been contributing nearly 40 percent of the global gross domestic product (GDP), but, the countries of this region have been facing problems in the non-formal sectors, social safety networks and climate change issues.

Highlighting Bangladesh’s success in the meeting, the adviser said that the interim government under the leadership of Chief Adviser Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus has been relentlessly working for amending the Labour Law-2006, simplification of trade union registration rules and developing the work environment for the workers. 

The government is also pledged bound to develop the skills of the youth and create employment facilities for them, he added.

The meeting was informed that Bangladesh is going to take the responsibility as the coordinating country of the Asia Pacific Group under the ILO. The adviser in this regard sought cooperation from all country and said that Bangladesh is committed to build a fair and inclusive labour market in the region.

Among others, Director General of the ILO Gilbert F Houngbo, representatives from 14 Asia Pacific countries, secretary of the Labour and Employment Ministry AHM Safiquzzaman , Chairman of Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority Major General Abul Kalam Mohmammad Ziaur Rahman and Additional Inspector General of Police Gazi Jasim Uddin were present at the meeting.