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 Independent. Here is the news for the week ending 3rd December 2015.

This week in the Bangladesh English Press…

…we hear about new initiatives to increase business with Europe and ongoing efforts to regain trade agreements with the United States. A Queen promotes financial services for all. And we ask if farmers in Bangladesh could enjoy the benefits of organic farming.

Boosting Trade and Investment

Bangladesh exported goods worth over seventeen million dollars to the European Union last year. The country wants to further increase trade with the European Union and attract investment from its twenty five member countries. So the government is setting up a joint business council with representatives from the European Union members. Representatives from Bangladesh will come from business associations such as the Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association.

With inclusive financial services poor farmers can access loans. And elderly women can set up bank accounts to receive allowances.

The United States Ambassador reiterated that the decision to exclude Bangladesh from the General System of Preferences was not political. We have reported on the issues related to this trade agreement before. And the matter was recently raised in Washington during discussion of the Trade and Investment Cooperation Forum Agreement.

Inclusion for All

around eight million women that could benefit from better work opportunities for the disabled

On her recent visit to Bangladesh Queen Maxima of the Netherlands spoke about financial inclusion. With inclusive financial services poor farmers can access loans. And elderly women can set up bank accounts to receive allowances. Access to financial services is critical element of social and economic development.

More could be done to help women with disabilities enter the work place. The National Council for Physically Challenged Women said there are around eight million women that could benefit from better work opportunities for the disabled.

Agriculture, Jobs and Income

A study of farming in the UK says that organic farms generate twice as many jobs than non-organic farms. Organic farms are also demand a more consistent level of farm labour throughout the year. This is because planting and harvesting schedules are more spread out across the year. Organic farms also incorporate more processing and marketing activities. And this accounts for some of the additional jobs. But how do these findings apply to farming in Bangladesh? More news to follow in the coming weeks.

Olive farming can be a good source of income for farmers in the Barind region of Rajshahi. The Rajshahi Fruits Research Centre says that the fruit of single olive tree can be sold for up to sixteen thousand Taka. And perhaps more might be earned if the olives are processed for their oil.