Labour and Employment Secretary AHM Shafiquzzaman. File Photo

THAKURGAON, July 26, 2025 (BSS) - Labour and Employment Secretary AHM Shafiquzzaman today called for the expansion of the 'Child Labour Monitoring System (CLMS)' model at the national level to eliminate child labour across the country.

"Thakurgaon model is an exemplary example . . . We will have to accelerate the activities to eliminate child labour by implementing this model in other districts as well," he told a workshop on "Thakurgaon Model for Elimination of Child Labor: Experience and Success" at Gobindanagar here today.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) is funding for the undergoing CLMS project.

Cabinet Division Secretary (Coordination and Reforms) Zaheda Parveen, Rangpur Divisional Commissioner Md Shahidul Islam and Factory Inspection Department Inspector General Omar Md Imrul Mohsin were present there.
Noting that about one million children are engaged in hazardous labor in Bangladesh, the labour secretary said the government is committed to ending child labour by ratifying the ILO Conventions 138 and 182.

"In coordination with the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, we are working to bring child labour to zero level," the labour secretary added.

Founder and Executive Director of Eco Social Development Organization (ESDO) Dr. Muhammad Shahid-Uz-Zaman said 1,192 children have been freed from labour in Thakurgaon.

Field-level experiences were exchanged with the participants, including former child laborers, guardians, local leaders and government officials in the workshop.