Social dialogue needed to mainstream gender issues

Gopal Bhattacharya speaks at a workshop on 'Priorities for gender equality in the world of work' at Brac Center Inn in the city yesterday. On his right is Rokeya Quader and on his left is Shafiqur Rahman Majumder. PHOTO: STAR

The speakers also said social dialogue can also play an important role for mainstreaming gender issues into policy and development programmes with a view to promoting gender equality.

International Labour Organisation (ILO) Bangladesh organised the workshop with different stakeholders on 'priorities for gender equality in the world of work' at Brac Centre Inn in the city.

The National Women Development Policy put less emphasis on the equality at the workplace of the women, they said adding establishing equality in the policy and in the PRSP is essential to women empowerment.

They said gender equality policy is one of the most significant policies that affect government progress in poverty reduction and economic and social development in the country.

Dr Rushidan Islam Rahman, research director of Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies, called for raising awareness among the people of grassroots level, specially parents so that they let their daughters go for higher education.

Dr Abdul Hye Mandal of BIDS and Dr Kaniz Siddique, professor of North South University showed presentations and put forward some recommendations that include creation of quality jobs for women, creation of conducive environment at work place for increasing women's participation to workforce, ensuring equal pay for equal work.

There should be a system of equal opportunity for men and women in society, where men and women will be treated equally, they said.