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What the papers say

Progress to Prosperity

This week in the Bangladesh English Press we look at research and policy for economic growth and see the significance of wages and the middle classes. Women are being supported in work through the provision of childcare at work. And through new proposals for paid maternity leave. We see the effect of labour costs on farming. Finally, the story of labour migration to Malaysia continues.

A weekly round up of articles about employment, the labour market, skills training and workforce development.This week’s round up is drawn from The Daily Star. Here is the news for the week ending 12th November 2015.

This week in the Bangladesh English Press…

…we look at research and policy for economic growth and see the significance of wages and the middle classes. Women are being supported in work through the provision of childcare at work.  And through new proposals for paid maternity leave. We see the effect of labour costs on farming. Finally, the story of labour migration to Malaysia  continues.

Inclusive Growth and the Middle Classes are Key to Stability and Prosperity

The middle class is growing. According to the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies the middle class will grow to 33% in 2030. It currently 20% reports The Daily Star.

The ready made garments industry could increase wages and remain competitive.

A top United Nations official called on businesses to integrate inclusivity and sustainability into their values. The head of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific was speaking at this year’s Asia-Pacific Business Forum reports The Independent.

The Global Prosperity Index measures a nation’s wealth and well-being. Bangladesh came 103rd out of 142 countries in this year’s index. It scored well on personal freedom but low on social capital reports The Financial Express.

The ready made garments industry could increase wages and remain competitive. This is the conclusion of a study conducted by the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies. Buyers, suppliers, government and employees should work together to negotiate prices, decent wages, and safe working environments says The Daily Star.

Women in Work

In the past we’ve reported on the problems faced by women at work. This week The Daily Star describes in detail the creches provided by two large garments factories in Dhaka. Both businesses explain that the benefits of these facilities outweigh the costs. The Labour Law requires medium and larger sized factories to provide child-care facilities for its employees.

This scheme will be contributory and would cover maternity leave, unemployment and other work benefits.

The Daily Star examined the details of the governments new National Social Security Strategy. The strategy will provide allowances for children, unemployed, and pensioners. It will rationalise 145 current safety net programmes some of which are too small to be effective. In an later in the week The Daily Star revealed more details of a pension scheme. This scheme will be contributory and would cover maternity leave, unemployment and other work benefits.

Six mobile classrooms will be travel around the remotest areas of Bangladesh over the next three years. Two hundred and forty thousand women will receive computer training when the buses stop in their areas. The Daily Star reports on this initiative sponsored by Robi and China’s Huawei.

Agriculture Constantly Evolves

Dhaka consumes about four thousand tonnes of vegetables every day. And people are eating more greens than in the past. These days more and more vegetables are grown in the Dhaka surrounds. Farmers have been able to increase production with better farming practice. They also have better access to seeds and other farming inputs reports The Daily Star.

There have been other changes in farming practices. Larger areas of farm land is now leased. Before land owners used to hire labourers to work their farms. But rising labour costs means this practice is not profitable writes The Daily Star.

Trade and Migration

Bangladesh and Malaysia have not been able to agree arrangements for recruiting migrant workers.  Malaysia wants to employ one and a half million Bangladeshis in the plantation, construction, manufacturing, and service sectors. A Malaysian firm has been selected to manage the recruitment. But Bangladeshi stakeholders are unhappy with this set up writes The Daily Star.

The United States Ambassador said that Bangladesh may regain its General System of Preferences status. The two countries will discuss this at the second Trade and Investment Cooperation Forum Agreement meeting later this month says The Daily Star.