Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- International Labour Organization (ILO) has assured Bangladesh of extending all-out support for capacity building to protect the interests of the workers, including the rehabilitation of the Savar victims.
Gilbert Fossoun Houngbo, Deputy Director General (DDG) of the ILO, gave the assurance during a meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the VIP room of Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital, Dhaka, on Wednesday (May1) after a May Day discussion.
Prime Minister’s press secretary Abul Kalam Azad briefed reporters after the meeting.
A four-member high-level delegation, led by Mr. Gilbert, arrived in Dhaka on Wednesday (May1) on a four-day visit to Bangladesh to discuss labour issues with the authorities concerned.
The visit comes seven days after the deadly collapse of eight-storey Rana Plaza that left more than 400 dead and hundreds injured.
The ILO DDG, also the former Prime Minister of West African country Togo, handed over an ILO letter, to the prime minister expressing deep condolence and sympathy to the people of Bangladesh over the Savar incident.
He appreciated the efforts of Bangladesh to start the rescue operation immediately after the building collapse on April 24 and hoped that the victims will get full and prompt compensations.
Sheikh Hasina informed the ILO team that the government has taken short, medium and longterm measures to provide the injured workers proper medical facilities after the rescue and for their proper rehabilitation.
She also said that the labour policy framed by the government has given the highest importance to the workers' interests.
The prime minister sought all-out ILO support to implement the programmes taken by the government for the welfare of the workers.
BBN/SSR/AD-02May13-1:13 pm (BST)
