Bangladesh voted to ILO body

Bangladesh has been elected to the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) governing body after three years - this time for the 2014-2017 term.

The foreign ministry says the election is recognition of Bangladesh’s close working relations with the UN-body, intensified further, it says, in the aftermath of the Rana Plaza tragedy.

The ILO is providing technical assistance to Bangladesh under its flagship Better Work Programme to promote collective bargaining and improve working conditions in the ready-made garment sector.

The voting was held in the ongoing ‘103rd Session of the International Labour Conference (ILC)’ in Geneva on Monday.

Bagladesh got 234 votes.

Ministry of Labour and Employment Secretary Mikail Shipar was present during the voting.

As the ILO’s executive arm, the Governing Body decides on ILO policies, programmes and budget, and also elects the Director-General.

The foreign ministry said Bangladesh’s membership would allow it to reflect its labour market concerns and priorities in setting the agenda for ILO work.

“It would also allow Bangladesh to share its good practices concerning labour law implementation, tripartite consultative mechanism, social protection schemes, promotion of migrant workers’ rights and ‘greener jobs’ creation on a sustainable basis, among other issues”.