Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2012, published 102nd ILC session (2013)

Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) - Bangladesh (Ratification: 1972)

The Committee notes the observations of the Bangladesh Employers’ Federation which are incorporated in the Government’s report relating to the Committee’s previous direct request.

Equality of opportunity and treatment of indigenous peoples. The Committee notes that under the ILO project on “Building capacities on indigenous and tribal people’s issues in Bangladesh: Rights and good practices”, several training activities on indigenous peoples’ rights and development had been provided for traditional leaders, national and local NGOs and parliamentarians for the period of 2009–11. During this period, the National Human Rights Commission has incorporated ratification of the Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention, 1989 (No. 169), in its target strategy. The ILO project has been renewed for the period from January 2012 to June 2014, and is aimed at giving stakeholders a clear understanding of the provisions and application of indigenous peoples’ rights, ensuring the integration of indigenous peoples’ rights in national and international standards and policies, and establishing and strengthening monitoring and coordination mechanisms for the implementation of indigenous peoples’ rights. The Committee also notes the statistics on the number of appointments of tribal peoples in public departments, and the Government’s indication that quotas for minority communities are allocated for the governmental service and for admission to educational institutions. The Government also aims to provide a stipend to 75 per cent of the indigenous students in higher education. The Committee further notes the Government’s indication that by implementing different projects in the Chittagong Hill Tracts region, the awareness concerning equality has been raised among the indigenous peoples. The Committee asks the Government to provide detailed information, including statistics, on the quotas allocated for indigenous peoples in the public service and in educational institutions, and on the stipend provided, their implementation in practice, and the results achieved. Please also continue to provide information on the measures taken to promote and ensure equality of opportunity in employment and occupations of male and female indigenous peoples in the Chittagong Hill Tracts region, as well as in the other parts of the country, and the results of such measures. The Committee also asks the Government to provide information on any further steps taken or envisaged with a view to the ratification of the Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention, 1989 (No. 169).

Equality of opportunity and treatment irrespective of social origin. The Committee recalls the Government’s acknowledgement concerning disadvantaged groups in the context of the National Strategy on Accelerating Poverty Reduction II, 2009–11. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that occupations for communities including kaibarta/namasudra, jalo, dhopas, napits are diminishing, and that the Ministry of Social Welfare has implemented a capacity and livelihood development programme for socially disadvantaged women, including sex workers. The Committee asks the Government to provide detailed information on the specific measures taken to promote increased access to education, training and employment of persons belonging to disadvantaged groups, including on the capacity and livelihood development programme for women belonging to disadvantaged groups, and the impact of such measures.

Labour inspection. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that training for labour inspectors with regard to non-discrimination and equality is ongoing. It also notes the observation by the Bangladesh Employers’ Federation that a more active role for labour inspectors in enforcing the provisions of law at the workplace is sine qua non for the economic development and social justice. The Committee asks the Government to provide information on the number of labour inspectors being trained on non-discrimination and equality, and any other measures taken to enhance the capacity of labour inspectors to identify and address discrimination in employment and occupation, as well as the results achieved by such measures.