Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2015, published 105th ILC session (2016)

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 recalls its previous request to the Government for statistics regarding indigenous peoples working in the public service and educational institutions, as well as information on the measures adopted or envisaged to ensure equality of opportunity in employment and occupation of indigenous peoples, including those living in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) region. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that various provisions of the Constitution ensure such equality, and that there are quotas reserved for minority communities for recruitment into government service, as well as in educational institutions. Specifically, the Government indicates that indigenous students are provided with instruction in their mother tongue through the National Education Policy of 2010, and that the Government targets to provide stipends to 75 per cent of indigenous students for secondary and higher education, and that learning materials are provided free of cost to these students. The Committee also notes from the Government’s report to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) of 27 May 2015 that the Small Ethnic Groups Cultural Institutions Act of 2010, which aims, among others, to preserve and promote the traditional lifestyle of all ethnic communities, establishes a 5 per cent quota for ethnic minority candidates for recruitment in the public sector, as well as three to five places for ethnic minorities for enrolment in higher educational institutions. It also notes from this report that in the financial year 2014–15, the CHT Development Facility supported community empowerment through 1,686 Para Nari Development Groups and micro-grants for community projects, and that a Peace Makers’ Network has been formed with 47 members (13 of whom are women) trained on conflict mediation and peace building. It also notes that One Stop Crisis Cells have been established in the three hill districts in order to provide information and referral services to victims of violence, and that women in the Santal community have been trained in modern vegetable cultivation techniques, and women entrepreneurs of CHT have been introduced to bank financing (CEDAW/C/BDG/8, 27 May 2015, paragraph 114). The Committee also notes the Government’s continued commitment to work with the ILO through technical cooperation to promote equality of opportunity and treatment of indigenous peoples. The Committee welcomes the policy measures outlined above and requests the Government to provide detailed information on the results achieved through these and other measures to promote equality of opportunity and treatment of indigenous peoples, including through the Small Ethnic Groups Cultural Institutions Act of 2010. This information may include statistics on the implementation of the quotas allocated to indigenous peoples in the public service and in educational institutions, as well as the stipend provided, the content of the community projects supported by the CHT Development Facility, the results of the technical training provided to women in the Santal community, and the results of any technical cooperation projects concluded in collaboration with the ILO and/or other United Nations agencies. The Committee also requests the Government to provide more information on the measures taken to ensure that initiatives such as the One Stop Crisis Cells and the Peace Makers’ Network sufficiently address the harassment in the workplace faced by indigenous women and men, including through the provision of training to their staff on such issues.

Equality of opportunity and treatment irrespective of social origin. The Committee recalls its previous request to the Government to provide detailed information on the measures taken to promote access to education, training and employment for persons belonging to disadvantaged groups. It notes the Government’s indication that programmes such as savings/credit schemes, training for alternative livelihoods and access to social services have been provided for coastal fishing communities, that NGOs are engaged in development activities with the “sweeper” community, and that owners of tea plantations have agreed with trade unions to enhance wages and provide subsidized food. It also notes the Government’s indication that the Ministry of Social Welfare has implemented a capacity and livelihood development programme for socially disadvantaged women, including sex workers. The Committee further notes that the Ministry of Land gives priority to allocating “khas” land (state-owned land) to people from disadvantaged communities under the Asrayan project, and that owners of tea plantations are encouraged to earmark land within their estates to build dwelling structures for tea workers. The Committee welcomes the measures outlined above to promote increased access to education, training and employment for persons belonging to disadvantaged groups, and asks the Government to provide more information on the results of their implementation, including statistical data on the participants and the outcomes achieved disaggregated by sex and community group. The Committee also requests the Government to continue providing detailed information on other specific measures taken to promote equality of opportunity and treatment for all irrespective of social origin.

Labour inspection. The Committee recalls its previous request to the Government to provide information on the number of labour inspectors trained in non-discrimination and equality, and any other measures taken to enhance the capacity of labour inspectors. It notes that the Government repeats its previous indication that training for labour inspectors with regard to non-discrimination and equality is ongoing. The Committee reiterates its request to the Government to provide information on the number of labour inspectors trained in 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, such as the number of complaints alleging discrimination in employment or occupation.