Bangladesh’s Minister of Labour and Employment, Ariful Haque Chowdhury, met with International Labour Organization (ILO) Director-General Gilbert Houngbo on Monday morning at the minister’s office in the Secretariat. The meeting focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation in labour sector modernization, labour law reform, job creation, and ensuring international labour standards, according to an official press release.

During the meeting, Minister Chowdhury reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting workers’ rights and ensuring safe workplaces. He highlighted the enactment of the Bangladesh Labour (Amendment) Act 2026 as a milestone in aligning with global labour standards and noted that Bangladesh is the first Asian country to ratify all ten fundamental ILO conventions. The minister outlined ongoing initiatives including amendments to the 2015 Labour Rules, formation of a National Social Dialogue Forum, introduction of a digital case management system, and the establishment of a new Directorate of Employment.

ILO Director-General Houngbo praised Bangladesh’s labour reforms and commitment to international standards. He assured continued policy and technical support, including a proposed joint mission in October, to promote workers’ rights and employment generation.