ISLAMABAD (ILO News): The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Pakistan Textile Exporters Association (PTEA) have signed a partnership agreement to promote Decent Work in Textile Industry in Faisalabad. The signing ceremony was held at Marriott Hotel Islamabad. Dignitaries from the Government of Pakistan, representatives of Employers and Workers Organisations, representatives of diplomatic missions in Pakistan including the European Union Delegation, United States Embassy, German Embassy and the Royal Embassy of Netherlands participated amongst other bilateral development partners.

The Partnership Agreement includes a comprehensive framework on improving productivity through training and compliance with International Labour Standards including occupational safety and health, wages, contracts of employment, discrimination and other forms of mal labour practices as well as strengthening employers’ and workers’ bilateral arrangements in textile industry. The cooperation will continue for three years and will cover more than 200 industrial units (small, medium and large) that are engaged in the textile export. After successful piloting, this intervention will be replicated in other Industrial Associations across the country.

At this occasion, Mr Sikandar Ismail Khan, Secretary, Federal Ministry of Overseas Pakistani and Human Resource Development (OPHRD) said that, “GSP Plus is an opportunity for Pakistani industries and this collaboration between ILO and PTEA will help improve the image of Pakistan textile industries as responsible workplaces that are compliant with national laws, including those based on International Labour Standards”.

Mr Amir Marwat, Federal Secretary, Ministry of Textile Industry endorsed the partnership and said that the Ministry has also reflected compliance to labour laws in the new Textile Policy which is of immense importance in order to reap the benefits of trade preferences such as GSP Plus.

Mr Ishrat Ali, Secretary, Labour and Human Resource Department, Government of Punjab, ensured district level support through effective and systematic labour inspection.

Mr Francesco d’ Ovidio, Country Director, ILO remarked that, “Issues in the garment industry are systemic and require action that helps develop effective industrial relations and promote respect of international labour standards. There is therefore an urgent need to establish strategic and comprehensive public private collaborations and the signing of today’s agreement is a positive step in this direction. I hope that other institutions, inspired by PTEA, will soon join this initiative. ILO’s honoured to provide its technical support ”.
At the same occasion, Mr Sohail Pasha, Chairman PTEA said that, “this cooperation is a great opportunity to further strengthen our work towards the establishment of well-functioning industrial units to increase sectoral productivity and competitiveness and reap the benefits from GSP Plus”.

Representatives of the Employers’ and Workers’ Organisations (EFP and PWF) fully supported the partnership framework and stressed on the importance of establishing a coordination mechanism between textile industries, related workers organizations and Labour Departments on compliance and reporting on labour laws.

The signing ceremony featured a presentation on the partnership framework that defined in detail outcomes and outputs envisioned as part of this collaboration.


 

For further information please contact:

Rabia Razzaque (Ms)
National Programme Coordinator
ILO Country Office for Pakistan
Email
Tel. +92 51 2276456-8