Decent work
Decent work priorities in Pakistan – Five-year plan (2023-27)
The Government of Pakistan, Provincial Departments of Labour, Employers' and Workers' Organizations and other important stakeholders agreed on Promoting decent work at the core of Crises, Promoting social protection coverage for all, Strengthening application of International Labour Standards through Social Dialogue and promoting workplaces which are safe, healthy, family-friendly and free of violence and harassment as priorities for next five years.
KARACHI (ILO News) - The Government of Pakistan, Provincial Departments of Labour, Employers' and Workers' Organizations and other important stakeholders agreed on four priority areas for the promotion of decent work in Pakistan in the next five years. Over 80 participants attended the last of series of consultations and consented on the following priorities:
Stakeholders found consensus that social dialogue and active consensus on issues affecting the world of work in Pakistan midst of these crises is pivotal to achieving decent work for all.
Mr Azhar Malik, Deputy Secretary Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development in his opening remarks stressed the need for ensuring coordination, coherence and consistency within the context of devolution.
Mr Khurshid Ahmed, representing workers, said that upholding fundamental principles and rights at work for almost 70 million work force which largely operates in the informal economy and the agriculture sector in particular, should be at the centre of the plan for the next five years.
Ms Sumaira Samad, Secretary Women Development Department, Government of Punjab lauding the efforts that have gone into promulgating enabling legislation on female labour force participation said that more needs to be done within and among actors that are responsible for creating and promoting a conducive environment for decent and inclusive work, especially for vulnerable groups like youth, women, people with different abilities. Paving the way for women to join and excel in the workforce but also for them to represent in leadership positions.
Mr Haroon Shamsi representing employers and business community, said that employers are fully cognisant of business continuity and competitiveness hinges on the well-being and motivation of workers and it is in the interest of employers that they meet their legal and ethical responsibilities of ensuring decent working conditions.
Participants discussed the need for a transformative agenda that promotes jobs to end poverty by applying measures that will create and improve quality of jobs. These measures include digital skills learning, effective labour market governance and promoting social protection for all. A lot of momentum has been achieved with regards to bringing workers in the informal work streams (such as care economy – domestic work, health sector and education) under the cover of social protection but more must be done to actualize these efforts.
Mr Markus Ruck, OIC ILO said that the importance of Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work has taken a new level with the inclusion of OSH as the fifth pillar. This is an area where specialised technical assistance will be required in the next five years to respond to the many OSH related challenges in various sectors.
The two-day consultation featured a presentation on DWCP in Pakistan, programming context provided by national and provincial policies, overarching development frameworks such as Pakistan’s Vision 2025, the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (2023-2027) as well as the Sustainable Development Goals 2030. In addition, group work was carried out on finalizing priorities, outcomes, outputs and also strategizing for the next five years.
The consultation was attended by: Pakistan Institute of Labour, Education and Research; Employers Federation of Pakistan, Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association, Towel Manufacturers Association, Brick Kilns Owners Association, HomeNet Pakistan, Pakistan Workers Federation, Sindh Labour Federation, All Pakistan Trade Union Congress, National Labour Federation, Mutahida Labour Federation, Pakistan Mines Workers Federation, Pakistan National Textile, Leather Garments & General Workers Federation, Pakistan Federation of Building and Wood Workers, Employees Old Age Benefits Institution, Sindh Social Security Institution, Punjab Commission on Status of Women, Bureau of statistics Punjab and Federal Bureau of Statistics, Provincial Mines Inspectorates, Planning and Development Departments, National Institute of Labour Administration Training, Directorate of Workers Education, Sight Saver, Ministry of Health and representatives of UN agencies among others.
- Promoting decent work at the core of Crises
- Promoting social protection coverage for all
- Strengthening application of International Labour Standards through Social Dialogue
- Promoting workplaces which are safe, healthy, family-friendly and free of violence and harassment
Stakeholders found consensus that social dialogue and active consensus on issues affecting the world of work in Pakistan midst of these crises is pivotal to achieving decent work for all.
Mr Azhar Malik, Deputy Secretary Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development in his opening remarks stressed the need for ensuring coordination, coherence and consistency within the context of devolution.
Mr Khurshid Ahmed, representing workers, said that upholding fundamental principles and rights at work for almost 70 million work force which largely operates in the informal economy and the agriculture sector in particular, should be at the centre of the plan for the next five years.
Ms Sumaira Samad, Secretary Women Development Department, Government of Punjab lauding the efforts that have gone into promulgating enabling legislation on female labour force participation said that more needs to be done within and among actors that are responsible for creating and promoting a conducive environment for decent and inclusive work, especially for vulnerable groups like youth, women, people with different abilities. Paving the way for women to join and excel in the workforce but also for them to represent in leadership positions.
Mr Haroon Shamsi representing employers and business community, said that employers are fully cognisant of business continuity and competitiveness hinges on the well-being and motivation of workers and it is in the interest of employers that they meet their legal and ethical responsibilities of ensuring decent working conditions.
Participants discussed the need for a transformative agenda that promotes jobs to end poverty by applying measures that will create and improve quality of jobs. These measures include digital skills learning, effective labour market governance and promoting social protection for all. A lot of momentum has been achieved with regards to bringing workers in the informal work streams (such as care economy – domestic work, health sector and education) under the cover of social protection but more must be done to actualize these efforts.
Mr Markus Ruck, OIC ILO said that the importance of Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work has taken a new level with the inclusion of OSH as the fifth pillar. This is an area where specialised technical assistance will be required in the next five years to respond to the many OSH related challenges in various sectors.
The two-day consultation featured a presentation on DWCP in Pakistan, programming context provided by national and provincial policies, overarching development frameworks such as Pakistan’s Vision 2025, the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (2023-2027) as well as the Sustainable Development Goals 2030. In addition, group work was carried out on finalizing priorities, outcomes, outputs and also strategizing for the next five years.
The consultation was attended by: Pakistan Institute of Labour, Education and Research; Employers Federation of Pakistan, Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association, Towel Manufacturers Association, Brick Kilns Owners Association, HomeNet Pakistan, Pakistan Workers Federation, Sindh Labour Federation, All Pakistan Trade Union Congress, National Labour Federation, Mutahida Labour Federation, Pakistan Mines Workers Federation, Pakistan National Textile, Leather Garments & General Workers Federation, Pakistan Federation of Building and Wood Workers, Employees Old Age Benefits Institution, Sindh Social Security Institution, Punjab Commission on Status of Women, Bureau of statistics Punjab and Federal Bureau of Statistics, Provincial Mines Inspectorates, Planning and Development Departments, National Institute of Labour Administration Training, Directorate of Workers Education, Sight Saver, Ministry of Health and representatives of UN agencies among others.