Tuomo Poutiainen, the outgoing country director of the International Labour Organization (ILO), believes that generating employment, especially for youth, and creating quality jobs across all sectors are essential for Bangladesh.
Poutiainen made the comment at a meet-the-press event at the ILO office in Dhaka on Monday morning, marking the conclusion of his 10-year tenure in Bangladesh, which officially ends this month.
"Quality jobs need to be created in all sectors, in service sectors, agricultural sectors, manufacturing sectors, for local businesses, and for export purposes," he said.
Poutiainen asserted that a large number of young people enter the labour market every year, making the employment agenda highly relevant.
He emphasized that it is as urgent as ever for Bangladesh.
"It is important that the country reflects on how and where these jobs can be created in the current situation. You need proper policies and discussions on where these quality jobs may come from. That is very, very important to us."
He also discussed their collaborative efforts with the government and private sector to develop skills and modernize vocational training systems.
Poutiainen highlighted the importance of vocational and skills training for girls. "There is still a lot of stigma in terms of equal rights for women or girls. I want to be clear that there is no job that men and women cannot do. There should not be any disparity in terms of recognition or pay when it comes to gender. Therefore, it is vital that vocational training systems and access to employment are based on equal opportunities."
The outgoing ILO country chief expressed satisfaction with the Labour Reform Commission's report issued by the interim government. "We are very happy to see the Labour Commission report relatively recently, as it provides a strong overall vision for decent work."
While responding to a question, he mentioned that Bangladesh's issues will be discussed next in March 2026 at the ILO conference, and they hope to see progress on labour reform by early next year.
During a one-hour discussion with journalists, Poutiainen shared insights on their work, vision, and mission concerning labour reforms, work environment, labour rights, employment generation, labour migration, social protection, and marginalized groups and sectors.
He noted: "In the last five to six years, there has been a commitment by the government to a wide range of labour reforms aimed at improving the standards and legislation in the country to meet internationally recognized benchmarks.
"That has been one of the key processes, and there have been several amendments to the Labour Act in the last 10 years. We are expecting another amendment relatively soon."
"All of those amendments are intended to improve the quality of legislation and broaden the scope of protections offered by these laws—for workers, employers, and businesses alike. That has been a very significant part of our work and continues to be," he added.
The ILO country director also discussed efforts to ensure better working environments.
He said: "Employers and workers should be able to choose their own members and representatives. Not someone else, but they themselves should choose who represents them. Then, they can sit together at the table to start discussions on economic development, labour rights, or laws. That has been a very big part of our work."
Praising the improvements in Bangladesh’s garment sector since the Rana Plaza collapse in 2013, Tuomo said: "Since Rana Plaza, there has been a remarkable investment, particularly in safety and health."
He added: "Over the last 10 years, significant improvements have been made through investments by the government, industry, and buyers. As a result, you may see fewer accidents in the garment industry. However, this does not mean that all other industrial sectors have received the same level of investment.
"My message is that while improvements in the garment industry are commendable, continuous investment in occupational and industrial safety across all sectors is necessary. At the end of the day, all workers in all sectors should be safe."
He also praised the employment injury system introduced in the garment sector after the Rana Plaza tragedy. "When Rana Plaza collapsed, accident compensation was very low, and the capacity to provide compensation was not up to international standards. Special initiatives like the Rana Plaza Trust were launched to address these shortcomings.
"I am happy to report that a prominent employment injury system now exists in the garment industry. There is an agreement to roll it out to the leather and footwear industries and, potentially, to nationalize a new, modern accident protection system."
He continued: "This demonstrates that it is possible to have well-managed social insurance approaches. We look forward to seeing how this system will be progressively nationalized. If you have a remunerative job that allows you to support yourself and your family, then social protection systems may not be necessary. But if that is not the case, there must be mechanisms in place to assist and support you and your family."
Commenting on the development of social protection systems, Poutiainen said: "We continue to invest in social protection systems. While some planning inputs are visible, it will still take time to develop a practical and effective system."
The official also highlighted the need for Bangladesh to invest in higher-skilled migration.
"Bangladesh needs to improve its initial conditions for migration. The country must enter into bilateral agreements with destination countries to safeguard the migration experience. Moreover, returning migrants should come back with recognized skills that can benefit Bangladesh," he added.
He also noted that marginalized groups and sectors in Bangladesh require special attention.
"Ethnic populations must have access to equal opportunities, just like other citizens. This is an ongoing concern that must continue to be addressed in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and lowland areas inhabited by ethnic groups."
He also said that domestic work needs better legislative protection in many ways.
Reflecting on his 10-year tenure in Bangladesh, Poutiainen said: "Some progress has indeed been made in working conditions, safety, and health at work. Moving forward, it is important to address informality in work and to expand legislative protections and standards across all sectors so that all workers can benefit from better working conditions and improved job quality."
Poutiainen will be moving to the ILO's Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific in Bangkok, Thailand, as deputy director.
Under his leadership in Bangladesh, the ILO supported critical reforms in labour legislation, including workplace safety improvements, trade union registration processes, labour inspection systems, and dispute resolution mechanisms.
These efforts have contributed to increased transparency and accountability in the world of work and strengthened the voice and capacity of the ILO's three constituents—government, employers, and workers—in shaping the future of work.
Poutiainen played a central role in transforming Bangladesh's ready-made garment (RMG) sector, overseeing programs that improved safety and compliance, including industrial safety checks in over 1,500 factories, and promoting sustainable business practices.
