Form policies to address post-4IR challenges for workers: analysts

The government should start formulating policies to address the short- and long-term risks workers will face due to the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), analysts said today.

Workers are likely to encounter challenges related to security, skills development, and re-employment and to address these, the labour force, trade unions, employers, and citizens should be included in the policy-making process, they added.

Skills development is a critical issue that requires strategic planning for implementation, along with greater transparency, accountability, and a robust network for success, the experts emphasized.

The recommendations were presented at a two-day symposium titled "4th Industrial Revolution: Effect on Employment and  Workers, towards an Inclusive Policy".

The event was organized by the Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS) in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and was held today at the capital's CIRDAP Auditorium in Dhaka.

"Now is the time for Bangladesh to prepare to step into the era of the 4IR while keeping pace with advanced nations," said Labour Secretary AHM Shafiquzzaman, who attended the event as the chief guest.

Bangladesh, which is set to graduate to a developing nation in 2026, is currently in a position similar to where Japan was in 1960 and China in 2000, he remarked.

Economist Ananya Raihan highlighted concerns about job losses caused by automation, particularly for women.

He stressed that reskilling and the development of new skills will be essential.

"By 2035, machines will perform 57 percent of work, up from 44 percent in 2022," he noted.
Industries such as garments, agriculture, and food processing could experience significant job losses, while sectors driven by artificial intelligence and the gig economy offer new opportunities, he added.