ISLAMABAD (ILO News) - Pakistan is taking steps to streamline its reporting obligation on the ratified International Labour Conventions to the ILO’s Supervisory Bodies. In this regard, a joint action plan agreed by the four provincial Labour Departments in a workshop jointly organized by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MoHRD) and the ILO held on Dec 18-19, in Bhurban. This action plan will enable the Ministry of Human Resource Development to seek timely reports from the provincial Labour Departments on the reporting against ILO Conventions, discuss the reports with the representatives of employers’ and workers’ organizations before submitting it to the ILO’s Supervisory Bodies.
Mr Muhammad Ahsan Raja Federal Secretary, Ministry of Human Resource Development said, “With the passage of 18th constitutional amendment, labour has become a provincial subject. However, Ministry of Human Resource Development still has the responsibility to report on the ratified ILO Conventions to the ILO’s Supervisory Mechanism.” He assured that the Government of Pakistan will continue to fulfill its commitments under the ratified ILO Conventions and coordinate with provincial labour departments to ensure for the application of international labour standards and its reporting to the ILO. He also thanked the ILO for its support to Pakistan to help improve reporting on the international labour standards and to promote decent work in the country.
On this occasion, while talking to the Participants Mr Francesco d’Ovidio, ILO Country Director said “In post 18th constitutional amendment, for the purposes of reporting on the International Labour Standards the vertical link between the provincial labour departments and the Ministry of Human Resource Development needs to be strengthened for timely reporting. Pakistan has ratified 34 ILO Conventions including 8 core conventions. However, an institutional arrangement needs to be developed to ensure timely information flow between the federal and provincial governments on the ILS reporting. ILO is ready to provide necessary technical assistance to the MoHRD and the provincial labour department to develop this mechanism”.
Mr K. M. Nauman, President Employers’ Federation of Pakistan, Brother Zahoor Awan, General Secretary Pakistan Worker’s Federation in their statement also stressed the need to improve Pakistan’s reporting on the International labour standards. Dr. M. Saifullah Chaudhry, Senior Programme Officer, ILO, explained the ILO’s supervisory mechanism and the various complaint mechanisms that are in place. Mr Faizal Tirmizi, Director to Foreign Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs in his technical presentation highlighted the importance of effective reporting on the ratified ILO Conventions and recommended measures to be adopted to improve reporting. Mr M. Javaid Gill, Central Labour Advisor MoHRD in his presentation identified the challenges that ministry face in compiling reporting on the ratified ILO conventions.
Mr Coen Kompier, Specialist on Labour Standards, ILO Sub-regional Decent Work Team, in a skype call briefed the participants on the reporting requirements by member states on the ILO ratified conventions. Participants asked various questions to better understand the reporting system.
Mr Arif Elahi, Secretary Sindh Labour Department and Hassan Iqbal, Secretary Labour Punjab in their respective presentations gave briefing about their respective departments, and also share the existing practices on data collection and reporting on the ratified ILO conventions. The representatives of Labour Departments from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan also made similar presentations. Both Provincial Labour Secretaries emphasized the need that MOHRD to play its leadership role in coordinating the ILS reporting process. They also suggested the ILO to provide necessary technical assistance to the provincial labour departments to help put in place an effective mechanism for reporting on the ratified ILO conventions.
The workshop was attended by five-member delegations from each of the four provincial Labour Departments. The workshop concluded with an action plan to be followed with clear timelines and action points to improve Pakistan’s reporting on the ILO conventions.
For further information please contact:
M. Saifullah Chaudhry (PhD)
Senior Programme Officer
ILO Country Office for Pakistan
Email
Tel.: +92 51 2276456-8
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