Workers and Employers in Korangi Creek Industrial Park (Special Economic Zone) covered under labour laws

Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development organized an awareness raising seminar in Karachi to inform workers and employers on their rights and obligations under labour laws applicable in Special Economic Zones (SEZs).

Press release | Karachi, Pakistan | 23 September 2022
ISLAMABAD (ILO News) - the Federal Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development (OP&HRD) organized an awareness raising seminar in Karachi to inform workers and employers on their rights and obligations under labour laws applicable in Export Processing Zones (SEZs).

The seminar was attended by 80+ participants representing tripartite plus stakeholders including officials from the federal Ministries of OP&HRD and Commerce, Department of Labour and Human Resources, Government of Sindh, Employees Old Age Benefits Institution (EOBI), Pakistan Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC), and workers and employers of industrial establishments located in Korangi Creek Industrial Park (KCIP).

Mr Junaid Afzal representing the Ministry of OP&HRD, welcomed the participants of the seminar and emphasized the need to raise awareness about labour laws that regulate working conditions and environment and provide a framework for industrial relations for workers and employers in the SEZs.

Syed Athar Ali Shah (Joint Director, Labour Directorate of Labour and HR Department Sindh), Engg. Awais Ahmed Shaikh (Joint Director, OSH Directorate of Labour and HR Department Sindh), and Syed Ali Muttaqi (Deputy Director, EOBI, Karachi) informed the workers and employers about their rights and obligations under different labour laws applicable in EPZs.

Mr Peter from MediPlus, representing workers, appreciated the efforts of MOPHRD and PIDC in conducting the seminar which certainly increased the knowledge of workers and employers about relevant labour laws and their applicability in SEZs.

Ms Faiza Shafqat, overseeing reporting under GSP Plus, representing the Ministry of Commerce, emphasized the importance of compliance to international labour conventions ratified by Pakistan and said that the SEZs are of critical importance as they contribute significantly to the exporting value chain and with the new EU Due Diligence Laws, all manufacturers in Pakistan will have to ensure that they adhere to the requirements of the national laws and international treaties.

The seminar was supported by the ILO-IFC Better Work Programme in Pakistan.