Categories
What the papers say

Jute Rejuvenated

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 15 March 2018.

This week in the Bangladesh English Press…

…we hear about seminars and dialogues on career and employment. A fair was organized by the jute and textiles ministry. Export earnings from garments have seen an increase. UNICEF is said to provide financial assistance to Bangladesh for its child-related activities. We also hear about a study published by Business Finance for Poor in Bangladesh (BFP-B) project on growth of small enterprises. A new farming initiative helps improving nutrition for families living on the Bangladesh-Myanmar border.

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

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

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.

Categories
What the papers say

Low Wage Trap

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 17th November 2016.

This week in the Bangladesh English Press…

…Malaysia revives recruitment of Bangladeshi workers. Expert examines the challenges of production costs, wages, and long work hours in Bangladesh’s garments factories. And Bangladesh once again ranks lowly on the latest competitiveness report.

Categories
What the papers say

Skills Produces Growth

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 5th May 2016.

This week in the Bangladesh English Press…

…Bangladesh’s growth projections look optimistic, even if they come with attached concerns. Reports revealed that skills training and a better work environment could greatly improve Bangladesh’s standing as a regional leader on garments. Oil price drops reduce remittance flow back to Bangladesh. Row in Chittagong slows water transport cargo movement.

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What the papers say

Looking Forward

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 28th April 2016.

This week in the Bangladesh English Press…

…the country remembers the Rana Plaza collapse and looks forward to ways improvements can be made to worker’s safety and working conditions. Water transport workers continue to strike, keeping many stranded across the country. New studies and projects encourage growth in Bangladesh, citing the potential this country has over the next few decades.

Categories
What the papers say

Uneasy Progress

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 Financial Express. Here is the news for the week ending 21st April 2016.

This week in the Bangladesh English Press…

…Workplace safety slowly improving amidst delays and resistance. Some worker demonstrations end while others begin. Farmers and fishers are finding it hard to grow their enterprises, or even support themselves as financial support remains distant. A bright story on the success of lamp makers in Pabna.

Categories
What the papers say

Advantage through People

A weekly round up of articles about employment, the labour market, skills training and workforce development. Here is the news for the week ending 1st October 2015.

This week in the Bangladesh English Press…

…the Centre for Policy Dialogue examines Bangladesh’s performance on the Global Competitiveness Index. World Bank Vice President is upbeat about the benefits of connectivity. Sweden supports workplace relations in garments businesses. And foreign companies invest in power and water saving technologies.