Reviving production after COVID-19; sports goods industry in Sialkot took another milestone to train its workers on OSH, FPRW and Productivity

The Employers Federation of Pakistan in collaboration with Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry and with the technical assistance of ILO under the Government of Japan funded Project on “More and Better Jobs through Socially Responsible Labour Practices in Pakistan” conducted trainings on occupational safety and health (OSH), Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work (FPRW), productivity and the Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy (MNE Declaration) in the sports goods industry.

Press release | Sialkot, Pakistan | 06 October 2020
AAMIR QURESHI / AFP
SIALKOT (ILO News): With the assistance of ILO, the Employers’ Federation of Pakistan (EFP) organized a series of trainings for 376 factory workers and management from the 20 sports good industry on OSH, FPRW and productivity. The trainings were conducted in Sialkot from 18th to 21st August 2020 at two venues to minimise the number of people gathered in one place during the COVID-19 outbreak. The training also highlighted the importance of MNE Declaration as a framework to promote a sustainable production and its relation to exports of sports goods from Pakistan.

The participants termed the training as the need of the hour in enhancing productivity and safety and health in the post COVID work resumption by adopting safe practices for a safe return to work.

The trainers highlighted safety and health as one of the priority areas to prepare for return to work after pandemic. They highlighted the importance of productivity, quality and competitiveness as the ultimate priority areas for the enterprises to succeed. FPRW and MNE Declaration principles are an important framework to lift the social face of the enterprises as they demonstrate responsible business and Corporate Social Responsibility. .

Mr Ismail Suttar, President EFP in his closing remarks said that Sialkot industry is making serious efforts to overcome the COVID crisis. EFP conducted these trainings to mitigate challenges of the pandemic. It will help industry to achieve sustainable development through better jobs, and attention to safety and health and higher productivity.

Mr Major (R) Khawaja Javed, Director Operations, Forward Group of Company, Mr Muhammad Ali Butt, President, Forward Gear Workers Union, Mr Abdul Waheed Sandal, Ex-President Sialkot Chamber & former EFP Board Member and Mr Ch. Muhammad Saad, Deputy Secretary General, Pakistan Workers Federation also addressed the concluding session.

EFP is one of the core constituents of ILO and is implementing a number of activities under the phase III of project “More and Better Jobs through Socially Responsible Labour Practices in Pakistan”. The Project is funded by Government of Japan through its Fund for Building Social Safety Nets in Asia and the Pacific (SSN Fund).