Bangladesh showcases skill development achievements at global forum

Bangladesh showcased its achievements in skills development at the two-day-long Global Skills Forum that ended on Wednesday (April 24) in Geneva.

The essential role of skills and lifelong learning was well-recognised at a session on the last day of the forum in enhancing the labour force’s employability and productivity, attracting investment and fostering national economic growth, according to a statement.

Challenges still persist in realising Bangladesh government’s vision for the national skills system and therefore the Global Skills Forum, hosted by the ILO Skills and Employability Branch on 23 and 24 April, had invited constituents and development partners to discuss skills challenges and partnerships in a changing world, featured an exclusive session on Wednesday dedicated to Bangladesh.

This high-level panel, held at ILO Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, attended by Education Minister Mohibul Hassan Chowdhury and representatives from Employers' and Workers’ Organizations and key development partners, the European Union and the government of Canada.

During the session, participants deliberated on Bangladesh's achievements, ongoing challenges, and proposed strategies for advancing the national skills system through targeted strategies and collaborative partnerships.

Srinivas Reddy, Chief of the Skills and Employability Branch at ILO, moderated the session, commencing with a video showcasing Bangladesh's main achievements in skills development.

Speaking at the session, Rezwana Saki, Secretary of the Bangladesh Free Trade Union Congress, brought attention to the obstacles encountered by workers striving to acquire advanced skills suitable for the labour market.

She advocated for social dialogue and greater involvement by Workers' Organizations and the need for accelerating the implementation of the Bangladesh National Qualifications Framework to facilitate lifelong learning and formal recognition of workers' skills.

Recognising the crucial role of skilled labour in driving higher-value production and economic advancement, Bangladesh has since 2007 multiplied its investment in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and skills development, and after one and a half decade the results of these numerous efforts are tangible, added the statement.   

Bangladesh has formulated a National Skills Development Policy and established a unified national qualifications framework to enhance recognition of skills qualifications and upskilling of the workforce. Moreover, the traditional TVET system has evolved into an industry-relevant and skills-focused model.

These transformations reflect the government's commitment to its development vision, complemented by significant financial contributions by development partners and technical expertise provided notably by the International Labour Organization (ILO).

Speaking there, Gilbert F Houngbo, ILO Director General of ILO commended the beneficial long-term partnerships between Bangladesh government, ILO, EU and Canada, recognising their mutually reinforcing contributions to Bangladesh’s skills development objectives. 

He underscored the importance of climate change mitigation and adaption through green skills development, as well as promoting social cohesion and employment through ensuring accessibility and inclusivity of the skills development system.

Highlighting Bangladesh's significant advancements in skills development, notably in ensuring accessibility and equity for marginalised groups such as women, indigenous communities, and persons with disabilities, Education Minister Mohibul Hassan Chowdhury said these endeavours align closely with the government's stated political objectives and developmental priorities. 

He, however, stressed the need to bridge the skills mismatch between the high-skills needs of industry and the generally low-skilled labour force, both nationally and more generally.

The minister called upon industry sectors and development partners to take proactive steps in promoting lifelong learning and enhance skills development, especially in emerging industry sectors like pharmaceuticals, ICT, and agro-food processing.

Farooq Ahmed, Secretary General of the Bangladesh Employers’ Federation, highlighted the essential role of the private sector in skills development, including the need for more apprenticeships in skills development and job creation, as well as facilitating a seamless transition from education to employment.

He advocated for incentives to encourage businesses to adopt and increase the quantity and quality of apprenticeships models applied and emphasized the comprehensive need for industry-relevant TVET.

Charles Whiteley, Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh emphasised the EU’s support for upcoming talent partnerships between Bangladesh and key EU Member States for skilled migration of Bangladeshi workers to the EU through legal migration pathways, as well as plans to support the diversification of the production base of industry sectors through gateway collaboration.

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