Govt to make digital database of workers

The Ministry of Labour and Employment will make a web portal and mobile apps to prepare a complete digital database of three lakh workers in formal and informal sectors in a bid to ensure skilled manpower in the country.

The Ministry of Planning has recently approved a project titled ‘Bangladesh Labour Information Management System (LIMS)’ in this regard.

The database will include information on workers involved in tea gardens, readymade garments, pharmaceuticals, tannery and ship breaking industries.

The project aims to collect information of 5000 factories and establishments and include the information in the labour information management system, according to the project proposal.

It also aims to provide identification numbers and printed ID cards along with digitised service books to the workers.

According to the project proposal, a central labour database and LIMS is necessary to provide jobs to the huge number of unemployed and create new employment opportunities for the existing workers.

“A complete database of workers is an immediate need for the country as it is not possible to make any plan regarding the labour sector without knowing the number of workers,” said a senior official of the planning ministry.

“The information on workers in formal and informal sectors will be preserved to determine the level of their skills. Once LIMS is introduced, workers in formal and informal sectors will get registered with the labour ministry,” he added.

According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) data from 2019, there are 46,291 manufacturing institutions with 58.80 lakh workers in the country.

Besides, a BBS Labour Survey conducted in 2016-17 stated that there are 2.7 million unemployed people in the country. 

The project is estimated to cost Tk 33.67 crore which will come from the government exchequer. The Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments will implement the project by April 2025, said the proposal, adding that the project will be implemented in all districts of the country.

The project implementation consists of steps including appointing three consultancy firms to prepare web a portal and mobile apps to include labour information, conducting a survey at the field level, technical evaluation and second phase feasibility study of the project.

Besides, 45 local training sessions will be held across the country under the project.