The government is considering safeguarding all the industries that are producing goods for the local market, like the way it secures the export-oriented ones.
To this effect, a national committee has already inspected 5,200 factories, and the rest of the factories will also be brought under inspection.
Salman F Rahman, Private Industry and Investment Adviser to the Prime Minister, made the comments on Tuesday while addressing as the chief guest at a workshop titled 'Promoting Occupational Health & Safety for Improving Productivity'.
The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) and International Labour Organization (ILO) jointly organised the workshop at the FBCCI in the city, said a press release.
Many owners were reluctant to start reforms in the garment sector, he mentioned, adding that now this sector was getting the benefits of a decent working environment.
In the same way, the pharmaceutical industry of the country has also gained worldwide reputation due to its quality factories.
Speaking on the occasion, ILO's Technical Adviser Gorge Faller called for the successful implementation of the government policies to make the workplace safer.
If the workplace is safe, it is beneficial for both the employer and the worker, he said.
Bangladesh should work for a safe and sound workplace so that the world recognises that the "Made in Bangladesh" goods represent safety, he said.
Speaking as a special guest, Secretary for Labour and Employment Md Ehsan-E- Elahi said that safety, quality and production were interrelated.
As the working environment of the factory improves, so does the productivity of the workers and the quality of the goods manufactured, he mentioned.
The secretary said that the government was working to make Bangladesh free from child labour by 2025, according to the FBCCI press release.
Earlier, Mostofa Azad Chowdhury Babu, senior vice president of FBCCI, delivered the welcome address.
He said that having the opportunity to work safely in the workplace was one of the basic rights of the workers.
He urged the owners, workers and all concerned to come forward to ensure safety in the workplace.
FBCCI vice presidents Md Amin Helaly and Md Habib Ullah Dawn, directors Hasina Newaaz, Md. Rejaul Kariem Rejnu CIP, M.G.R Nasir Majumder, Syed Moazzem Hossain, Harun Or Rashid, Dr Ferdousi Begum, Amzad Hussain, Md. Shaheen Ahamed, Shomi Kaiser, Md Naser, Dr. Joshoda Jibon Deb Nath, CIP, Mohammed Mahbubur Rahman Patwari, Abu Hossain Bhuiyan (Ranu) and Md Rezaul Islam Milon, and Secretary General Mohammad Mahfuzul Hoque were also present at the workshop.
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