Bangladesh leads Covid Response Committee in International Labour Conference

Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh in Geneva Md. Mustafizur Rahman chaired the Committee

With an urge for an inclusive, sustainable and resilient recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 109th International Labour Conference (ILC) adopted a resolution on Thursday concerning a global call to action for a human-centred recovery from the COVID-19 crisis.

The resolution calls for ensuring access to vaccines and personal protection equipment for workers, particularly to reduce the health risk of the health workers as well as salaries and allowances of all workers during the pandemic.

The resolution strongly appeals for timely, affordable and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines for all people in all countries for the revitalization of the global economy and the world of work, said the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh in Geneva on Friday (June 18).

It also urges the International Labour Organization to play a more effective role for accelerating the support to States to address the increasing inequality between developed and developing countries.

The resolution emphasizes the expansion of social safety net for recovery from the pandemic with a special focus on women, older persons and migrants.

At the same time, it underscored the need for a gender-balanced, sustainable and people-centred post-pandemic recovery plan.

The global call to action was adopted after an intense negotiation in the COVID Response Committee of the ILC.

Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh in Geneva Md. Mustafizur Rahman chaired the Committee.

Bangladesh also led the Asia and Pacific Group in the negotiation as the coordinator and stressed the need for addressing the specific challenges of the region.