Categories
What the papers say

Exports up Seven Percent

A weekly round up of articles about employment, the labor 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 11th January, 2018.

This week in the Bangladesh English Press…

…we hear good news about export growth  while the exchange rate of the Dollar appreciates against the Taka,  The World Bank invests in major safety net programmes and the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment plans to send around 1 million workers overseas for employment. But we also hear about hazardous working conditions in Bangladesh.

Categories
What the papers say

Trade Fair Kicks Off

A weekly round up of articles about employment, the labor 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 4th January, 2018.

This week in the Bangladesh English Press…

…we hear about the opening of the month-long Dhaka International trade fair. Women’s empowerment is seen in sports. Differently abled people get opportunities during the recent Information and Communications Technology job fair. And the government wants businesses to expand their markets to increase export earnings.

Categories
What the papers say

Machines Oust Workers

A weekly round up of articles about employment, the labor 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 28th December, 2017.

This week in the Bangladesh English Press…

…we hear about an increase in the overseas employment of Bangladeshi workers. Affirmation from inspection agencies and favorable exchange rate make garment exporters optimistic. But jobs are already being lost to machines in garments industries. And school banking receives a hugely positive response.

Categories
What the papers say

Energy Powers Up

A weekly round up of articles about employment, the labor 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 21st December, 2017.

This week in the Bangladesh English Press…

…we hear about Bangladesh Apparel Exchange organizing the first ever fashionology summit in the capital. Domestic demand, infrastructure and new energy initiatives drive growth. And Japan looks to Bangladesh for trained workers.

Categories
Issues in the Labour Market

The Informal Sector: Considering Productivity

Accounting for Low Productivity in the Informal Sector

At six o’clock in the morning Mariam, now 18 years old, wakes up and gets ready for the day. She works at a garments factory just outside Dhaka city. As she brushes her hair, she remembers her work as a maid. She was just a child. She cooked, cleaned and took care of the kids when their parents weren’t around. Maryam has bad memories of those times. She always felt the family were unhappy with her work. But she didn’t know why. Sometimes they were happy and would give her gifts of clothes and sometimes money.  When she they were unhappy…well, those really were painful memories.

That’s all behind her now. But work in the factory isn’t easy, either.

Categories
What the papers say

Health in Garments Work

A weekly round up of articles about employment, the labor market, skills training and workforce development. This week’s round up is drawn from The Daily Star and Migration News. Here is the news for the week ending 7th December, 2017.

This week in the Bangladesh English Press…

…we hear about growing employment opportunities for differently abled people. And an international NGO continues to help garments workers address their health needs. The Ministry of Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment – with the help of international organizations – discusses issues in international labour migration. The leather-goods industry, tourism industry and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector is making good progress. And the government is keen to attract foreign investment.

Categories
Work Stream

Migration Report

Managing Data on Expatriate Workers

The Bangladesh Ministry of Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment will publish an Annual Migration Report.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is assisting the Ministry to design and publish this yearly account of labour migration statistics and issues.

Quay Asia is working for the IOM and providing a team of experts including a senior migration expert, a capacity building specialist, a gender and social inclusion expert, and a labour economist.

Categories
What the papers say

Development Initiatives

A weekly round up of articles about employment, the labor 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 2nd November 2017.

This week in the Bangladesh English Press…

…we hear about new initiatives to boost development. New trade agreements are formed to increase business relationships. Markets of garments and agricultural products are prospering. Foreign investors are keen to invest. But the complexities of doing business in the country have become a major barrier.

Some farmers are still struggling. Workers are unhappy with wage discrimination and harassment. Remittance inflow was the lowest in six years. And women continue to feel threatened by child marriage and workplace discrimination.

Categories
What the papers say

Trade and Investment

A weekly round up of articles about employment, the labor 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 26th October, 2017.

This week in the Bangladesh English Press…

Trade and FDI in Bangladesh have increased. While there have been a few success stories, some problems still exist.

Agriculture continues to face challenges. Some farmers have enjoyed good crop cultivation, whereas others had to bear losses. Banks have shown interest in increasing agriculture loans. This is likely to boost the sector.

Workers both within and outside Bangladesh suffered misfortunes. Unsafe working condition is a major cause. Productivity among women garments workers needs to increase.

The Government has taken good initiatives to enhance women empowerment. Such as access to bank loans, opening help centers for women entrepreneurs and increasing women’s participation in IT related jobs. The Government is also focusing on youth development and employment.

The National Board of Revenue is set to hold tax fairs, workshops and conduct studies.

Categories
What the papers say

The Hazards of Work

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 October  2017.

This week in the Bangladesh English Press…

Workers remain vulnerable to discrimination.

Small farmers, migrant labourers, women and child workers are the most challenged by poor labour practices and unfair market conditions.

Small farmers continue to face discrimination in the agriculture sector. And Bangladeshi migrant workers face harsh situations abroad. Women suffer violence and inequality at work. Unfortunately, child labour remains widespread.

Recruitment policy is not always fair in either public or private sector jobs.