Winrock International holds roundtable on creating women-friendly workplaces
The event took place at the Six Seasons Hotel in Gulshan-2, Dhaka, today.
Winrock International, in collaboration with the Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS) and with support from the Embassy of Switzerland in Bangladesh, has organised a roundtable discussion on making workplaces more women-friendly and inclusive.
The event took place at the Six Seasons Hotel in Gulshan-2, Dhaka, today (5 November).
The discussion, part of a national consultation with the private sector, explored ways to enhance women's safety, participation, and empowerment in the workplace. Participants emphasised the importance of joint efforts from policymakers, trade unions, and civil society to drive future advocacy and policy reform.
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Speakers highlighted that women's participation in Bangladesh's labour force has grown significantly since 1999–2000.
They also lauded the government's recent ratification of ILO Convention 190 on 22 October 2025, describing it as a major step toward ensuring safer and more inclusive workplaces.
Speaking at the event, Dipta Rakshit, country representative of Winrock International, said, "Ensuring a women-friendly workplace is not merely a matter of social responsibility—it is a critical investment for productivity, innovation, and sustainable growth." She stressed the need for coordinated action among government, private sector, and development partners to secure safe and dignified workplaces for women.
Nazma Yasmin, BILS director, presented the keynote paper, outlining existing policy gaps, challenges, and progress in protecting women's dignity, safety, and welfare at work. The session was moderated by Parveen Sultana Huda.
Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed, executive director of BILS, noted that despite progress, "the absence of a national minimum standard for women's workplace safety means improvements remain fragmented."
He called for legal safeguards, maternity protection, flexible work options, and community daycare centres to support working women.
Speakers also urged the private sector to play a leading role in fostering a gender-supportive work culture across industries.
Representatives from the labour ministry, SME Foundation, Bangladesh Employers' Federation, and various civil society organisations also took part in the discussion.
