<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 1rem;"><b>Law Minister Anisul Haque said that health care and safety at the workplace is a fundamental right of every worker.&nbsp;</b></span><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He highlighted the importance of a safe and decent working environment for the realization of this right, while speaking as the chief guest at a discussion meeting on 'National Occupational Health and Safety Day' organized by the Ministry of Labor and Employment.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This year's theme for the day was 'Ensure a decent working environment, build a smart Bangladesh.'</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He stressed that the observance of safety rules at workplaces and ensuring a decent working environment is crucial for sustainable development.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He emphasized that ensuring occupational safety in factories and establishments is not solely the responsibility of the government or factory owners. Instead, it has become a liability for the factory owners.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Bangladesh Labor Act and Bangladesh Labor Regulations mandate that workplaces be safe and dignified for workers, and this requirement is now recognized internationally, he said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As Bangladesh moves towards becoming a developed country, occupational safety should be given great importance, he added.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The minister urged all stakeholders, including workers, owners, and the government, to work together to establish occupational health and safety as a national culture.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He emphasized the need for joint initiatives to ensure a decent working environment, including the proper implementation of the Bangladesh Labor Act and Bangladesh Labor Rules.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He called for working sincerely towards ensuring a decent working environment for workers.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The implementation of these measures will go a long way in protecting workers' rights and promoting sustainable development in Bangladesh, he added. UNB</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">bnbd24/kh</div>