National Tripartite Consultation

Consensus emerges to escalate efforts for improved OSH conditions of Pakistan’s mine workers

The ILO, in cooperation with the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development organized a two-day National Tripartite Consultation on OSH in the mining sector. The Consultation took stock of the OSH situation in the mining sector, raised awareness on the sub optimal working conditions, mapped possible solutions for improvement and identified roles and responsibilities of stakeholders in promoting a preventive safety and health culture.

Press release | Islamabad, Pakistan | 27 November 2017
ISLAMABAD (ILO News): The ILO in coordination with the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development (MOPHRD) convened a National Tripartite Consultation on Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) in the Mining Sector from 21 to 22 November. The consultation brought together 55 senior delegates from the Government, Employers, Workers, academia and other significant mining sector stakeholder organizations/institutions was organized in the backdrop of increasing number of fatal accidents in the mines that have been recently reported in the reports and media. Records indicate that more than 220 workers lost their lives in fatal mine accidents during the period 2010-16.

This Consultation took stock of the OSH situation in the mining sector, raised awareness on the sub optimal working conditions, mapped possible solutions for improvement and identified roles and responsibilities of stakeholders in promoting a preventive safety and health culture.

The ILO Director, ILO Country Office for Pakistan, Ms Ingrid Christensen recalled the right of workers to a safe and healthy working environment. She hoped that the consultation would result in recommendations for concrete steps towards curbing the number of fatalities and other injuries to health, guided by the ILO Convention on Safe and Health in Mining, 1995 (no 176). The need for cooperation among Governments, employers and workers was highlighted.

Addressing to the inauguration ceremony, Senior Joint Secretary to the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development (MOPHRD) Mr Noor Zaman Khan informed the participants about Governments’ unequivocal commitment to support to efforts to improve OSH conditions of mine workers. The senior representatives of Pakistan Workers Federation (PWF) and Employers Federation of Pakistan (EFP) also pledged their support in advancing the agenda of safeguarding mine workers.

The participants highlighted the immediate need to enhance cooperation among stakeholders, improve the current data management system on OSH as well as capacity building interventions for workers and employers in the sector. Participants also suggested that the ratification of the Convention on Safety and Health in Mines would facilitate the implementation of recommended efforts.

The national OSH Consultation in mining was supported through ILO’s Sectoral Policies Department and the ILO Project on Strengthening Labour Inspection in Pakistan funded by the Dutch Government. The Global Union IndustriAll contributed with specific technical expertise on OSH in the mining sector.