The Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) has expressed interest in partnering with the International Labour Organization (ILO) to develop an industry-oriented skilled workforce, expand employment and bridge the gap between academic education and industrial requirements.
The proposed collaboration comes as the government plans to establish Employment Exchange Centres across the country under the Ministry of Labour and Employment, with technical assistance from the ILO.
The partnership would focus on strengthening links between industries and technical educational institutions, introducing work-based learning, improving vocational training and providing employment support services.
The issues were discussed at a meeting between Chamber leaders and an ILO delegation on Tuesday.
Chamber President Mohammed Amirul Haque said the country’s education system needed substantial reforms to prioritise technical and practical education in line with industrial requirements. Although thousands of students obtain general academic degrees every year, industries continue to struggle to recruit workers with the necessary technical skills, while many educated young people remain unemployed or fail to find suitable jobs.
Referring to vocational training models in developed countries, including Canada, he called for short-term, demand-driven training in practical trades such as plumbing, painting, cutting, sewing and gas utility services to prepare young people for employment.
He also stressed the need to modernise curricula and training methods to meet changing workplace demands, particularly the growing influence of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI).
Haque urged the ILO to prepare recommendations based on actual industrial needs and submit them to relevant government ministries and policymakers. He assured the organisation of the Chamber’s cooperation as a private-sector representative in implementing the government’s target of creating 10 million jobs.
Joining the meeting virtually, ILO Country Director for Bangladesh Max Tunon said the organisation works to address the respective needs and interests of the government, workers and employers.
He said the ILO’s priorities include creating more and better-quality jobs, improving workplace conditions, increasing productivity and ensuring workers have skills that meet industrial requirements.
Stronger collaboration between technical educational institutions and industries was essential to addressing employment challenges, Tunon said. Work-based learning, internships and practical training could help young people acquire the experience and skills employers need.
He identified a dual challenge for Bangladesh – many educated but inadequately skilled young people struggle to find jobs, while industries cannot recruit enough suitably qualified workers.
To address the mismatch, the ILO plans to introduce an Employment Support Service in Chattogram to exchange employment information, connect job seekers with employers, provide career counselling and create opportunities for internships and workplace-based training.
The service will also link up with skills-development institutions to ensure training programmes reflect local industrial requirements.
Tunon said the initiative could be expanded to other parts of the country if successful in Chattogram. The ILO is keen to work with the Chamber and its member organisations to develop a practical action plan.
At the meeting, ILO National Programme Officer Mohammad Wasfi Tamim presented different aspects of the proposed Employment Exchange Programme.
Chamber Senior Vice-President Md Amjad Hossain Chowdhury, Director Shahidul Alam and Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Director Enamul Aziz Chowdhury attended the meeting.
Also present were ILO Chief Technical Adviser Peter Baleen, Head of Programme Gunjan Dallakoti, Senior Programme Officer Tanzel Ahsan, BGMEA Chief Coordinator for ILO and Labour Affairs ANM Saifuddin, and Ritzy Group Managing Director Mirza Md Jamshed Ali.
