State Minister for Labour and Employment Begum Monnujan Sufian has said harassment and violence in the workplace is not something to be tolerated. Society will be left behind if harassment and violence in the workplace tolerated.
If everyone is aware of harassment and violence in the workplace, it will be easier to build a developed and prosperous country by 2041, she added.
The state minister said this while speaking at a programme titled ‘Training of Trainers on Gender Equality: Harassment and Violence Against Women and Men in the World of Work’ organised by the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) in collaboration with the International Labuor Organization (ILO) at Sarah Resort in Gazipur on Saturday.
Monnujan said harassment and violence in the workplace could not be the work of any civilized man. If everyone is aware, this rudeness will be removed from the society. Everyone wants a good work environment in the workplace. The beautiful workplace environment has a positive effect on factory production.
Women today work shoulder to shoulder with men in the workplace. There is no discrimination in Bangladesh labour law, but rights have been mentioned, she added.
Addressing the officers who received training today, the state minister said, “Be aware of yourself and others against harassment and violence in the workplace. Harassment and violence in the workplace will be reduced to zero if everyone is aware.” She expressed hope that it would have a positive impact on the development of the work environment around the world.
George Fowler, Chief Technical Adviser of ILO's Dhaka Office, spoke as the special guest at the closing ceremony of the training workshop, chaired by Ehsan Elahi, Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
The programme was conducted by Kamrul Hasan, Deputy Inspector General (Safety) of the Department of Factory and Establishment Inspection. Ahmed Belal, Deputy Inspector General, Gazipur, DIFE assisted in the three-day special training.
The intensive training workshop was held to create a sufficient number of skilled trainers to enhance the skills of the officers of the DIFE in labour inspection. The training programme was attended by 23 Assistant Inspectors General DIFE of Labour.