Academy of Work (AoW), an initiative of Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Bangladesh, in collaboration with Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS) and BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD), BRAC University, was inaugurated through a Press Conference on April 20, 2017 at a hotel in the city. The AoW is a three-month academic programme for mid-level trade unionists. It is the very first initiative in Bangladesh that enables emerging young leaders from the trade union movement to participate in an intensive cross-sector training programme in the field of industrial relations, economy and the decent work in the global supply chain in their very own language.
Mr. Mujibul Haque, State Minister for Labour and Employment graced the event as Chief Guest. The event was attended by Michel Sommer,Vice Chairman of the FES and former President of the International Trade Union Confederation and German Confederation of Trade Unions, Dr. Thomas Prinz, German Ambassador to Bangladesh, Professor Martin Allespach from the University of Frankfurt. Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed, Executive Director of BILS, Dr. Sultan Hafeez Rahman, Executive Director of BIGD and Franziska Korn, Resident Representative of FES Bangladesh also spoke on the occasion. Prominent trade union leaders, government representatives and academicians also attended the event.