Occupational Safety and Health
13th annual employer awards on Occupational Safety and Health
Every year worldwide 28th April marks World Day for Safety and Health at Work. This year was commemorated under the theme “Generation Safe and Healthy”. In Pakistan this day was marked by the ILO and its constituents through an event hosted by the Employers Federation of Pakistan (EFP) in Karachi on 7th May to reaffirm their commitment towards the common goal of safer workplaces and healthy workers in Pakistan. The event was attended by 175 delegates from the employer community, workers representatives, chamber of commerce and related federal and provincial government officials.
KARACHI (ILO News): Every year worldwide 28th April marks World Day for Safety and Health at Work. This year was commemorated under the theme “Generation Safe and Healthy”. In Pakistan this day was marked by the ILO’s constituents through an event hosted by the Employers Federation of Pakistan (EFP) in Karachi on 7th May to reaffirm their commitment towards the common goal of safer workplaces and healthy workers in Pakistan. The event was attended by 175 delegates from the employer community, workers representatives, chamber of commerce and related federal and provincial government officials.
Mr Majyd Aziz, President, Employers’ Federation of Pakistan (EFP), in his welcome address gave a detailed account of the initiatives taken by the EFP during the last thirteen years as inspiration for businesses to develop health and safety culture at enterprise level. He said that for EFP, the OSH event was not just a celebration but a movement to shape the future of work in Pakistan. Mr Majyd Aziz added that EFP has advocated and continues to emphasize the concept that expenditure on OSH should not be treated as a cost burden by enterprise but rather, as an investment, both for short-term as well as long-term benefits.
Mr Zahoor Awan, Secretary General, Pakistan Workers Federation in his speech highlighted that Health and Safety was a common concern for both of the employers and workers and called upon the government to take notice of the poor safety and health situation in the labour market, among others, in the agriculture, construction, mining and transport sectors. He further lamented the fact that the working environments in mining, construction and transportation were dismal due to constrained and incapacitated labour inspectorates.
Speaking to the occasion, Ms Ingrid Christensen, Country Director ILO Pakistan, said that gone are the days when accidents, illnesses and fatalities were considered as part and parcel of the work. She mentioned that almost all the work related accidents were preventable through systematic OSH measures. Recalling the five years’ old catastrophic fire incidence of Ali Enterprises in Baldia, Karachi and the recent deaths of dozens of innocent miners in Balochistan, Ms Christensen said that not only the precious lives are lost but also the suffering lasts within families and the society. Ms Christensen emphasized a more collaborative role of the Tripartite Constituents to improve the worsening OSH situation in Pakistan. She, emphasised that the promotion of OSH must be an integral component of labour strategies to ensure safer workplaces and realization of decent work. Ms Christensen also advised the employers to pay special attention towards the young entrants of the labour market, as the statistics suggested that young workers were more vulnerable to accidents. She also requested employers’ support for compliance with the provisions of Sindh OSH Act 2017 to create safe and healthy workplaces.
During a panel discussion, Mr Ashraf Ali Naqvi-Joint Director Labour, Mr Zishan Ahmed Siddiqi – National Project Coordinator SLISP, ILO, Mr Zahoor Awan, Secretary General, Pakistan Workers Federation, and Mr Abdul Waheed Sandal, Director Employers’ Federation of Pakistan discussed various challenges and strategies for improving the condition of OSH in Pakistan.
Malik Tahir Javed, President Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry, speaking as the Guest of Honor, said that Pakistan needed to formulate an Action Plan to reduce cost of doing business. He said that EFP, must play a pro-active and leading role in lobbying, advocating, and advising in all the economic and business issues faced by the private sector.
The event also included a ceremony for awards distribution among 24 employers recognised for promoting safe working conditions at enterprise level.
Mr Majyd Aziz, President, Employers’ Federation of Pakistan (EFP), in his welcome address gave a detailed account of the initiatives taken by the EFP during the last thirteen years as inspiration for businesses to develop health and safety culture at enterprise level. He said that for EFP, the OSH event was not just a celebration but a movement to shape the future of work in Pakistan. Mr Majyd Aziz added that EFP has advocated and continues to emphasize the concept that expenditure on OSH should not be treated as a cost burden by enterprise but rather, as an investment, both for short-term as well as long-term benefits.
Mr Zahoor Awan, Secretary General, Pakistan Workers Federation in his speech highlighted that Health and Safety was a common concern for both of the employers and workers and called upon the government to take notice of the poor safety and health situation in the labour market, among others, in the agriculture, construction, mining and transport sectors. He further lamented the fact that the working environments in mining, construction and transportation were dismal due to constrained and incapacitated labour inspectorates.
Speaking to the occasion, Ms Ingrid Christensen, Country Director ILO Pakistan, said that gone are the days when accidents, illnesses and fatalities were considered as part and parcel of the work. She mentioned that almost all the work related accidents were preventable through systematic OSH measures. Recalling the five years’ old catastrophic fire incidence of Ali Enterprises in Baldia, Karachi and the recent deaths of dozens of innocent miners in Balochistan, Ms Christensen said that not only the precious lives are lost but also the suffering lasts within families and the society. Ms Christensen emphasized a more collaborative role of the Tripartite Constituents to improve the worsening OSH situation in Pakistan. She, emphasised that the promotion of OSH must be an integral component of labour strategies to ensure safer workplaces and realization of decent work. Ms Christensen also advised the employers to pay special attention towards the young entrants of the labour market, as the statistics suggested that young workers were more vulnerable to accidents. She also requested employers’ support for compliance with the provisions of Sindh OSH Act 2017 to create safe and healthy workplaces.
During a panel discussion, Mr Ashraf Ali Naqvi-Joint Director Labour, Mr Zishan Ahmed Siddiqi – National Project Coordinator SLISP, ILO, Mr Zahoor Awan, Secretary General, Pakistan Workers Federation, and Mr Abdul Waheed Sandal, Director Employers’ Federation of Pakistan discussed various challenges and strategies for improving the condition of OSH in Pakistan.
Malik Tahir Javed, President Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry, speaking as the Guest of Honor, said that Pakistan needed to formulate an Action Plan to reduce cost of doing business. He said that EFP, must play a pro-active and leading role in lobbying, advocating, and advising in all the economic and business issues faced by the private sector.
The event also included a ceremony for awards distribution among 24 employers recognised for promoting safe working conditions at enterprise level.