Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury has directed officials to swiftly prepare a comprehensive list of beneficiaries of the country’s 32 labour welfare centres to ensure more efficient service delivery.
The minister issued the instruction during an exchange meeting with officials and employees of various departments under the Ministry of Labour and Employment at the Labour Bhaban in Dhaka on Wednesday.
Reviewing the progress of ongoing development initiatives, including the IT sector of the Department of Labour, the Minister emphasized the importance of strengthening technological capacity. He stressed that wider adoption of modern technology is essential to improve service standards and urged departments to accelerate digital transformation.
Taking a firm stance against negligence in public service, the minister warned that any form of laxity would not be tolerated. “Everyone must carry out their assigned responsibilities with vigilance and sincerity,” he said, calling for accountability at all levels to ensure harassment-free services for workers.
Highlighting the significance of workers in Bangladesh, Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury expressed concern over the continued reliance on outdated paper-based systems in many government offices, instead of online platforms for delivering support and services. He called for urgent measures to modernise these systems.
During the meeting, Labour and Employment Secretary Md Abdur Rahman Torofdar described child labour as a heinous crime and urged collective action to eliminate it. He also instructed labour inspectors to work proactively to safeguard the financial and social security of workers.
Other officials present included Director General of the Department of Labour Fahmida Akter, Inspector General of the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments Omar Md Imrul Mohsin, Director General of the Bangladesh Labour Welfare Foundation Md Munir Hossain Khan, along with other senior ministry officials.
