Strengthening Law Enforcement Responses and Actions against Internal Trafficking and Bonded Labour in Sindh & Punjab Provinces, Pakistan

This project will contribute to the elimination of bonded labour and to address the needs of bonded laborers and their families in Pakistan.

Pakistan still faces gaps in efforts to prevent and combat bonded labor, and to protect bonded laborers and their families. There is great political will, but a significant lack of resources and capacity. Furthermore, the April 2010 18th Amendment to Pakistan’s constitution shifting of labour as a legislative subject to the provincial realm is something provincial governments are not prepared for. During ILO’s recently-completed three year project Promoting the Elimination of Bonded Labour in Pakistan (PEBLIP), many needs were identified including: national data collection on bonded labour; integration of planning, monitoring and evaluation tools in the National Policy and Plan of Action; an integrated approach to release and rehabilitation of labour freed from bondage; increased institutional capacity especially in Sindh province; strengthened implementation capacity at District/local level; and enhanced inter-Ministerial collaboration.

This project will contribute to the elimination of bonded labour and to address the needs of bonded laborers and their families in Pakistan. ILO will provide technical assistance to federal and provincial governments to strengthen coordination and commitment to develop and implement policies and programs to combat bonded labor, and to protect laborers and their families. This includes supporting the activation of currently dormant District Vigilance Committees (DVCs) in target Districts. ILO will train key stakeholders to increase their capacity to address bonded laborers’ legal and social needs. It will coordinate a collaborative rehabilitation program to provide sustainable assistance to released men and women labourers. The project also includes a comprehensive knowledge and awareness campaign for stakeholders including parliamentarians, religious leaders, media, and workers. This project results will include improved government coordination and increased budgetary allocations for bonded labour; increased capacity and collaboration between law enforcement, government and civil society; coordinated, better rehabilitation services for released laborers and families, and increased knowledge and awareness about bonded labor and how effectively to combat it in Pakistan.

The project will build on ILO’s recent work to complement and expand existing services. It will mainstream gender concerns throughout, ensuring that both women and men participate and benefit equally. For long-term sustainability and to ensure complementarities and coordination between the ranges of stakeholders involved, this project is anchored in the government’s National Plan of Action for Abolition of Bonded Labour and Rehabilitation of Freed Bonded Labourers.

Development Objective:

To contribute to the elimination of bonded labour and to address the needs of bonded laborers and their families in Pakistan.

Immediate Objective:

  • By the end of the project, the commitment of federal and provincial governments to prevent and reduce bonded labour, will have increased, in particular through revitalization of DVCs;
  • By the end of the project, the capacity of state functionaries, judiciary, labour inspectors, employers and workers organizations and civil society will have increased to prevent, prosecute and address legal needs of bonded labourers;
  • By the end of the project, collaborative efforts between government and civil society for the sustainable rehabilitation of freed labourers and family members will have been developed;
  • By the end of the project, a sound knowledge base will have been developed as a programme management tool for stakeholders to plan, design and carryout interventions targeting bonded labour.

For further information please contact:

Mr Mian Muhammad Benyameen
National Project Coordinator
Tel: +92 51 2276456-8
Email