Bangladesh’s newly appointed Permanent Representative to the UN Office and other international organisations in Geneva, M Riaz Hamidullah on Wednesday met International Labour Organization (ILO) Director-General Gilbert F Houngbo and exchanged views on the post-2030 development agenda, the future of work and ways to advance social justice, particularly in the context of the Global South.
During the meeting, the Ambassador recalled Houngbo’s support for and understanding of Bangladesh over the past decade and a half.
They also discussed how to steer the ILO’s agenda towards a balanced focus on creating decent jobs, maintaining labour standards and norms, and promoting youth employment in large, labour-intensive economies amid rapid technological advancement, particularly artificial intelligence (AI).
Ambassador Hamidullah emphasised that ensuring a just transition and decarbonising supply chains must not come at the expense of workers’ well-being, particularly in low-income and populous countries like Bangladesh.
He also stressed the importance of advancing labour reforms to strengthen the investment climate and promote inclusive growth.
The Ambassador underscored that a sustainable future must deliver both economic progress and social justice for people.
He presented his credentials to Director-General of the United Nations Office in Geneva Tatiana Valovaya on October 27.