Female labour inspectors rise significantly

Only two female labour inspectors used to work at the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) back in 2010. Now, as part of a Gender Roadmap (GRM) implementation, this number has gone up significantly to 82.

Moreover, out of the total 523 positions in that agency, 114 positions are occupied by female officials. The GRM was implemented to facilitate progress towards gender mainstreaming in short, medium, and long terms.

The development came to light at the Female Labour Inspectors Conference, held in the city’s Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) on Thursday under the theme “Promoting Gender Equality at Work in Bangladesh.”

At the event, jointly organised by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and DIFE, representatives from the government, employers, and workers discussed strategies to promote gender equality at the workplace in Bangladesh.

Speakers highlighted the need to eliminate violence and harassment in the workplace, develop a gender-friendly work environment by ensuring maternity protection, balancing care work, having more women in leadership positions, and developing skills.

DIFE is the national labour inspectorate of Bangladesh under the Ministry of Labour and Employment, responsible for ensuring welfare, safety, and healthy working conditions for workers in various sectors by enforcing national labour laws in line with the International Labour Standards.

During the programme, ILO country director in Bangladesh Tuomo Poutiainen said the progress is truly a testimony of change and the progress in developing the capacity of the labour sector.

Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Bangladesh Anne van Leeuwen said, “I would like to congratulate the female labour inspectors for their dedication in promoting gender equality and labour rights in the country.

“Their commitment and hard work are making a tangible impact on the lives of workers in Bangladesh.”

High Commissioner for Canada in Bangladesh Lilly Nicholls said, “We have to work together to ensure that industries are evolving in a woman-friendly and environmentally safe manner. The gender roadmap, the inspection checklist are huge innovations and important steps forward.”

Labour ministry Secretary Md Ehsan-E-Elahi said, “We will try to gather the suggestions and findings from the conference, and incorporate them in the amended labour laws and policies.”