As Bangladesh approaches graduation from Least Developed Country status, sustaining industrial competitiveness will increasingly depend on stronger domestic institutions, higher social standards, and safer, fairer workplaces. This e-publication, 10 Years of Building Safe and Fair Workplaces, documents a decade of cooperation between Bangladesh and Denmark in advancing social sustainability in the industrial sector. It focuses on three interlinked themes: Occupational Safety and Health, Social Dialogue, and Just Transition.
Prepared by the Centre for Policy Dialogue in collaboration with the Embassy of Denmark in Dhaka, the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments, the United Federation of Danish Workers, 3F, and the Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies, the publication brings together the lived experiences of DIFE inspectors, workers, trade union members and leaders, and relevant stakeholders. Through case stories and video documentaries, it highlights how technical cooperation, institutional capacity building, worker participation and social dialogue have contributed to improvements in inspection systems, safety practices, grievance mechanisms and awareness of future labour-market transitions.
The publication also recognises that important challenges remain, including limited inspection coverage, gaps in enforcement, uneven worker participation, and the need for stronger institutional ownership. By presenting practical lessons and actionable insights, this e-publication aims to support continued dialogue and collective action towards safer, more inclusive and more sustainable workplaces in Bangladesh.
Author: Ema Akhter
Publication period: March 2026
