Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies-BILS under the BILS-LOFTF project organized a workshop on “BILS Intervention in Ship Breaking Sector” was held at BILS-LRSC, Chittagong on September 13, 2017.

The workshop was attended by consultant & researcher on labour issue, Ship Breaking Workers Trade Union Forum leadership, basic TU leaders from different TU federations &ship yards, BILS officials and related others. A total number of 18 participants took part in the workshop.

The workshop was presided over by Ship Breaking Workers’ Trade Union Forum Convener and President of Chittagong TUC Tapan Dutta. The participants of the workshop were BILS Secretary & JSL central joint-secretary Safar Ali, Associate Professor Dr. Muhammod Shaheen Chowdhury of Chittagong University Law Department, Forum leaders namely Md. Mosiuddowla and Dilip Kumar Nath of TUC, Kazi Altaf Hossain of BMSF, Md. Mahbubul Alam of JSL, Sirazul Huq of BSF, K M Shahidullah of BFTUC, Ship Breaking workers Md. Ali, Abdur Rahim Master and Md. Elias, BILS officials Rezwanul Huq Azam, Pahari Bhattacharjee and Rizwanur Rahman Khan.

At the beginning of the workshop participants were acknowledged about the aim and object of a research initiative of BILS-LOFTF in ship breaking sector mainly focusing on the present status of the industry, TU scenario, achievements and obstacles in case of organizing the workforce, way forward etc,

An audio-visual presentation on “Documentation of Achievements and Exploring Future Priorities” was made by BILS program Assistant Officer RizwanulHuqAzam. In it he briefly discussed on a 3-month program and research initiative including the pattern of the study, purpose, objectives, documentation and publication regarding the program and the study.

Participants in the workshop shared their experience especially on organizing ship breaking workers, on the attitude of local people, role of employers, function of labour inspection department and other stakeholders.

Speakers emphasized on reforming the existing labour law mainly the present system of recruiting workers on contract basis, declaring the industry as cluster one, implementation of labour law & TU rights, increasing compensation amount up to the living standard, assuring workplace-safety and decent work beside topping deprivation and exploitation of ship breaking workers in numerous ways.The workshop sessions were conducted by PahariBhattacharjee.