Representatives of the Bangladesh Employers Federation met with Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Huq Chowdhury at the conference room of the Labour and Employment Ministry in Dhaka. Photo: PID

DHAKA, Feb 25, 2026 (BSS) - Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Huq Chowdhury today stressed the need to strengthen relations between workers and employers to effectively tackle the challenges facing the current government.

He made the remarks during a courtesy meeting with representatives of the Bangladesh Employers Federation at the conference room of the Labour and Employment Ministry in Dhaka.

The minister said that the country must explore new labour markets and focus on practical initiatives rather than rhetoric. "We have to identify new labour markets. It is not enough to just speak; we must work with national interest as our priority. We are here to work, with no other agenda," he said.

State Minister for Labour and Employment M. Nurul Huq also spoke at the meeting. He noted that Pre-Departure Orientation (PDO) programmes for outgoing migrant workers are not being conducted properly, which is creating negative perceptions about Bangladeshi workers abroad.

The state minister stressed the importance of developing skilled human resources by making training centres more active and effective.

Senior officials of the ministry and representatives of the Bangladesh Employers Federation were also present at the meeting.