Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2010, published 100th ILC session (2011)

Fee-Charging Employment Agencies Convention (Revised), 1949 (No. 96) - Bangladesh (Ratification: 1972)

Part II of the Convention. Progressive abolition of fee-charging employment agencies. The Committee notes the Government’s report including detailed replies received in September 2010. The Government states that there are practically no fee-charging employment agencies conducted with a view for profit. In the past, agencies used to recruit people on request of employers in the private sector. Now, employers do not request assistance for recruitment as they have their own system of recruitment. Private sector industries address workers through notices on the notice board of the district employment and manpower offices which exist in almost every administrative district. The selection board selects workers directly but not through a private agency. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that private fee-charging employment agencies no longer play a role in the provision of labour market services, and that ratification of the Private Employment Agencies Convention, 1997 (No. 181), will not be appropriate for the country. In this regard, the Committee recalls that in paragraph 730 of its General Survey of 2010 on employment instruments, it highlighted the importance for member States to build or strive to build institutions necessary to ensure the realization of full employment. To this end, the Employment Service Convention, 1948 (No. 88), and the Private Employment Agencies Convention, 1997 (No. 181), invite member States to establish employment services to assist workers and employers in achieving and maintaining optimal employment. The conjunction of these Conventions forms a necessary building block for a well-functioning labour market and consequently employment growth. The Committee would welcome in the Government’s next report any information on new developments which, in consultation with the social partners, might occur in regard of the matters raised in this direct request.