Labour and Employment Brigadier General (Retd.) Dr. M Sakhawat Hossain has said that the interim government is working closely to protect the interests of both factory owners and workers.

Speaking at a high-level dialogue on transforming Bangladesh's industrial relations at the Westin Hotel in Dhaka, he said, "We are working closely to protect the interests of both workers and employers, and we are following the advice of the International Labour Organization (ILO)."

He highlighted that a strong relationship between employers and workers is essential for growth, noting that businesses with good relationships with their workers are seeing benefits.

"We need time to improve the labor industry, and we will implement recommendations from the Labor Reform Commission and the ILO," he added.

Dr. Hossain stressed that Bangladesh's development has reached a point where improving industrial relations is crucial for sustaining growth.

"A strong industrial relations system is key to building a competitive economy," he said.

He also underlined the importance of having effective dispute resolution mechanisms to prevent conflicts that could undermine development goals.

The adviser also mentioned ongoing initiatives, including the Labor Reform Commission, and emphasized the government's commitment to labor reforms, particularly in improving institutions for grievance handling, conciliation, and arbitration.

At the end of the dialogue, a Joint Declaration on Harmonious Industrial Relations was signed by AHM Shafiquzzaman, Secretary of the Ministry of Labor and Employment, Ardashir Kabir, President of the Bangladesh Employers Federation, and Badal Khan, Chairperson of the National Coordination Committee for Workers' Education.