Police Officers trained to address legal needs of bonded labourers
The Sindh Police in collaboration with the International Labour Organization conducted a 3-day master trainer course on Strengthening Actions and Responses against Bonded Labour.
Karachi (ILO News): The Sindh Police in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO) conducted a 3-day master trainer course on Strengthening Actions and Responses against Bonded Labour. The objective of the course was to train police officers to prevent and prosecute bonded labour incidences. A total of 35 instructors of police training schools and colleges from Sanghar, UmerKot, Mirpurkhas, Hyderabad, Larkana, Khairpur and Karachi participated in the course.
The chief guest Mr Ghulam Qadir, Additional Inspector General (Trainings) Sindh Police, observed that there was lack of awareness among police personnel about the issue of bonded labour and relevant laws. Therefore, he observed, at times bonded labour cases were treated as a civil dispute between landowner and tenant; while it falls under the domain of criminal offence. He stressed that in cases of bonded labourers it is the duty of the police to take action against those who were involved in violation of laws.
During the training the various topics on bonded labour were covered. These ranged from orientation on bonded labour issues and situation in Sindh, legal framework on tackling bonded labour, role of police in combating bonded labour and developing standing operating procedures of police for anti-bonded labour cells. Introducing participants with the core objective of the training, Abdul Khalique Sheikh, Focal person on bonded labour issue and DIG Sindh Police, briefed them on the role of police in addressing bonded labour cases.
Mr Benyameen, National Project Coordinator of ILO on bonded labour project in his lecture shared that ILO is supporting government, employers’ and workers’ organizations along with other stakeholders in promoting social justice and decent work agenda. He said that one of the ILO’s key interventions is to promote the elimination of bonded labour in Pakistan. With the ownership and commitment of the Government, ILO has successfully implemented several initiatives that supported to achieve targets set in Pakistan’s National Policy and Plan of Action against Bonded Labour. However, Pakistan still faces gaps in its efforts to prevent and combat bonded labour, and to protect and empower bonded labourers and their families. He said that there is a strong commitment and will among various stakeholders, however, lack of resources and capacity is challenge to end incidence of bonded labour.
He further shared that presently, ILO office for Pakistan is implementing a project on “Strengthening Law Enforcement Responses and Action against Internal Trafficking and Bonded Labour” funded by the U.S. Department of State. One of the strategic objectives of the project is to build capacity of state functionaries and key stakeholders to address legal needs of bonded labourers. Therefore, he said, that ILO is providing necessary technical support to provincial authorities to help build capacity to address incidence of bonded labour.
With the technical assistance of the project, the Sindh Police has already developed training module and conducted training of trainers. The project is also supporting the Sindh Police to establish anti-bonded labour cells in district Umerkot and Sanghar of Sindh Province.
Senior Programme Officer
ILO Country Office for Pakistan
Email
Tel.: +92 51 2276456-8
The chief guest Mr Ghulam Qadir, Additional Inspector General (Trainings) Sindh Police, observed that there was lack of awareness among police personnel about the issue of bonded labour and relevant laws. Therefore, he observed, at times bonded labour cases were treated as a civil dispute between landowner and tenant; while it falls under the domain of criminal offence. He stressed that in cases of bonded labourers it is the duty of the police to take action against those who were involved in violation of laws.
During the training the various topics on bonded labour were covered. These ranged from orientation on bonded labour issues and situation in Sindh, legal framework on tackling bonded labour, role of police in combating bonded labour and developing standing operating procedures of police for anti-bonded labour cells. Introducing participants with the core objective of the training, Abdul Khalique Sheikh, Focal person on bonded labour issue and DIG Sindh Police, briefed them on the role of police in addressing bonded labour cases.
Mr Benyameen, National Project Coordinator of ILO on bonded labour project in his lecture shared that ILO is supporting government, employers’ and workers’ organizations along with other stakeholders in promoting social justice and decent work agenda. He said that one of the ILO’s key interventions is to promote the elimination of bonded labour in Pakistan. With the ownership and commitment of the Government, ILO has successfully implemented several initiatives that supported to achieve targets set in Pakistan’s National Policy and Plan of Action against Bonded Labour. However, Pakistan still faces gaps in its efforts to prevent and combat bonded labour, and to protect and empower bonded labourers and their families. He said that there is a strong commitment and will among various stakeholders, however, lack of resources and capacity is challenge to end incidence of bonded labour.
He further shared that presently, ILO office for Pakistan is implementing a project on “Strengthening Law Enforcement Responses and Action against Internal Trafficking and Bonded Labour” funded by the U.S. Department of State. One of the strategic objectives of the project is to build capacity of state functionaries and key stakeholders to address legal needs of bonded labourers. Therefore, he said, that ILO is providing necessary technical support to provincial authorities to help build capacity to address incidence of bonded labour.
With the technical assistance of the project, the Sindh Police has already developed training module and conducted training of trainers. The project is also supporting the Sindh Police to establish anti-bonded labour cells in district Umerkot and Sanghar of Sindh Province.
For further information please contact:
M. Saifullah Chaudhry (PhD)Senior Programme Officer
ILO Country Office for Pakistan
Tel.: +92 51 2276456-8