According to a statement from the Bangladesh mission in Geneva on Monday, Bangladesh has been chosen as a titular member of the International Labour Organisation's governing body for the 2008-11 term. Bangladesh will be representing the Asia Pacific Group of countries within the ILO. The elections for 18 new titular members took place at the international labour conference in Geneva on Monday. The ILO governing body consists of 56 regular members and includes representatives from governments, employers, and workers in order to reflect the organization's tripartite structure. Acting labour and employment secretary Mahfuzul Haque, currently in Geneva, explained to bdnews24.com that the recent election demonstrates the international community's backing of the country's commitment to various ILO conventions. He noted that as a member of ILO GB, Bangladesh can play a significant role in safeguarding the rights of workers both domestically and internationally. Haque also mentioned that Bangladesh is currently working with ILO on projects such as eradicating child labor, improving conditions in the ship-breaking industry, and protecting workers from climate change-related risks. He expressed confidence that following the elections, Bangladesh will be able to collaborate on more projects with ILO to further support the labor community.