The Department of Inspections for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) along with Bangladesh Institute of Administration and Management (BIAM) and International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Improved Working Conditions in the Ready-made Garments Sector Programme, have designed a 40-day course called Foundational Training for Labour Inspection Officials. The course aims to improve the professional skills of inspectors and focuses on labour market-related policies and programmes, occupational safety and health, international labour standards and bangladesh labour laws. Other areas such as the government service rules, procedures, team work, office management, and Bangladesh and global economy will also be covered, an ILO press release said. Md Mujibul Haque, MP, state minister, Ministry of Labour and Employment, in his inaugral speech said, “Over the past two and a half years the Bangladesh labour inspectorate has undergone a process of transformation. It is now better funded, better resourced and better trained. This training programme will build the capacity of the DIFE and help ensure better working conditions across Bangladesh.” Apart from support training activities, ILO is lending a helping hand to develop improved labour inspection procedures, a strategic road map, effective data managemnt systems, and IT equipment to aid DIFE in carrying out the mandate. ILO country director Srinivas Reddy said, “This training forms an integral part of ILO’s capacity building activities to help Bangladesh develop a modern, transparent and credible labour inspection system. This comprehensive course will build upon earlier introductory training to give inspectors a deeper understanding not only of how to carry out inspections but also how to conduct themselves as competent and confident government officials.” The training will take in four batches of 40 inspectors. All 160 inspectors will complete the training by February 2016.
