Initiatives underway to eliminate child labour by 2030: Secretary

Ministry of Labour and Employment (MoLE) Secretary Md Sanwar Jahan Bhuiyan has said that the government has begun initiatives to formulate a National Plan of Action to Eliminate Child Labour for 2026–2030, aiming to completely eradicate child labour from Bangladesh.

He made the remarks while addressing the closing session of a two-day residential training on “Safe Work for Youth and Child Labour” in Rajendrapur, Gazipur.

Bhuiyan reaffirmed the government’s commitment to decent work, youth protection and effective labour administration, stressing that eliminating child labour requires coordinated action, particularly in hazardous sectors, alongside stronger labour inspections and expanded social safety net programmes for vulnerable families.

He identified poverty as the root cause of child labour and said sustainable solutions depend on bringing working children under comprehensive social protection schemes.

The secretary also noted improvements in the capacity and effectiveness of labour inspectors and expressed hope that the training would enhance workplace-level implementation.

He acknowledged the technical support of the International Labour Organization (ILO), said a press release.

The training was jointly organised by the ILO and the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) under the Advancing Decent Work in Bangladesh Project.

Around 50 mid- and senior-level labour inspectors and officials participated.

The programme focused on decent work, child labour laws, and international labour standards, including recently ratified ILO Conventions.