Decent employment in retail sector demanded

Stakeholders and analysts at a discussion on Thursday called for focusing on decent employment in the retail sector of Bangladesh to keep the sector’s success steady what it gained over the last decade.

They also focused on hunting talent while recruiting employees including women, physically challenged and transgender for sustainable progress in the sector.

They came up with the observations while attending a roundtable on “Enhancing employment: Opportunities for youth in Bangladesh’s retail sector” organised in Dhaka on Thursday.

BRAC’s Skills Development Programme (SDP) arranged the event at the BRAC Centre to foster discussions with the private sector on youth employment in retail sales and skills training required for the jobs and advocate the inclusion of women and persons with disabilities in the retail industry.

The speakers said that the retail sector has already employed over six million people and have much growth potentials and create employment opportunities for many more youths particularly women from the disadvantaged sections of the society in the coming years.

Nihad Kabir, president of the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), was present as the chief guest at the event. Tamara Abed, managing director of Aarong, BRAC, Syed Nasim Manzur, managing director of Apex Footwear Ltd, Murtoza Zaman, chief executive officer of Unimart, Tanvir Sohel Khan, business director of Shwapno, Shaheen Khan, chief executive officer of Gemcon Food and Agricultural Products Ltd, and Aziza Ahmed, head of operations of Bangladesh Business and Disability Network, Masudul Haq, managing director of Amanah Group, and Maria Huq, director of BRAC also spoke at the event.

Nihad Kabir said the retail sector is providing significant employment in the country and these employees must be provided with training to get proper service.

Right this moment training facilities for the aspirants are very limited, she said and called on the government to focus on making a women-friendly environment at workplaces.

Syed Nasim Manzur said uneducated people have many employment opportunities but a significant part of educated people remained unemployed and the retail sector can ensure job opportunities for them with proper training.

He also said the traditional mindset remained a big challenge in the retail businesses and it needs to be changed. Retailing business is not limited to the grocery but it can be a big industry, he added.

Sohel Tanvir Khan said women are more dedicated to their duties and can handle the customers well. “Currently, women are coming to the retail sector and doing well. But we have to provide training to get enough output from the employees,” he added.

Shaheen Khan said that women have equal ability to work like men. “Women work hard in RMG sector. They have to face the challenges of accommodation and transportation. We have to reduce gender-based discrimination in the workplace. We are encouraging the women to recruit women in employment,” he said.