Concluding Seminar
Concluding Seminar of the Project: More and Better Jobs through Socially Responsible Labour Practices in Sports Goods Sector in Sialkot-Pakistan
The Multinational Enterprises (MNE) Declaration Project “More and Better Jobs through Socially Responsible Labour Practices in the Sialkot Sports Good Sector” funded by Japan showcased good practices, disseminated the results and shared the lessons learned on 30 April 2018 during a concluding ceremony held in Islamabad. The project strengthened understanding and increased awareness among the stakeholders on the MNE Declaration, Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work (FPRW) and Occupational
ISLAMABAD (ILO News): Building on a legacy of social progress achieved through ILO supported efforts to eliminate child labour from the soccer ball industry in Sialkot, the Pakistan component of the ILO’s MNE Declaration Project implemented in cooperation with the Employers’ Federation of Pakistan (EFP) culminated with a concluding ceremony on 30th April which brought together various stakeholders including ILO’s constituents (Department of Labour, Employers’ and Workers’ Organizations), UN agencies, Diplomatic Missions/Embassies in Islamabad including the Embassy of Japan, Pakistan Olympic Association, academia, civil society, representatives of the sports goods industry from Sialkot and media.
Various speakers graced the occasion and underscore the importance and impact of the project in promoting decent work in the sports goods industry.
The Chief Guest, Mr. Noor Zaman, Senior Joint Secretary from the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis & Human Resource Development (MOPHRD) noted with satisfaction that the project contributed to the priorities set out under Pakistan’s third Decent Work Country Program. He commended the ILO’s & implementing partners’ role in furthering the decent work agenda in Pakistan through the project.
The Guest of Honour, Mr. Shinichi Honda, Acting Head, Economic & Development Section, Embassy of Japan congratulated stakeholders for successfully completing the project and making the financial assistance from the Japanese government worthwhile. He said that the project had contributed to promoting decent work and had enhanced Pakistan’s profile. He added that the achievements under the project were a starting point for further progress in promotion of decent work in Pakistan. He emphasized the need for stakeholders to work continuously to promote the decent work in Pakistan.
Mr. Majyd Aziz, President, Employers Federation of Pakistan (EFP) said the MNE Declaration project had directly benefited the ILO’s constituents as well as the sports goods industry and its workers. He added that based on the lessons learnt from Sialkot initiative, continuity and replication of the MNED project in other industrial hubs of Pakistan was essential. Mr. Aziz went further to add that one of the most important outcomes of the project was the forged alliance of stakeholders in building a strong business case for socially responsible labour practices and decent work to enhance market access for enterprises in Pakistan.
Mr. Neil Buhne, UN Resident Coordinator said that MNED project was one of the examples of the United Nations role enabling the private sector to adopt human rights based approaches in doing business. He added that implementation and enforcement of international labour standards were important to promote sustainable and responsible business. Mr. Buhne also said that various stakeholders need to continue to collaborate to address decent work issues and improve working conditions in Pakistan.
Ms Ingrid Christensen, Director, ILO Country Office for Pakistan while welcoming the participants, thanked all the partners for their extensive collaboration and cooperation towards success of the project. She expressed her gratitude to the Embassy of Japan in Pakistan for cooperation and the Government of Japan for supporting the project. Ms. Christensen said that hundreds of oversea buyers including multinational enterprises/brands were sourcing their products from thousands of large, medium and small sports goods companies in Sialkot, which were used in high profile events s uch as the football world cup and Olympic Games. She mentioned that efforts in Sialkot would be enhanced in the context of a unique partnership agreement between the 2020 Tokyo Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games and the ILO.
Other notable participants shared their experiences and perspectives on the project including Dr. Muhammad Suhail Shahzad-Additional Secretary- Labour & Human Resource Department, Mr. Fasihul Karim Siddiqi-Secretary General-EFP, Mr. Zahoor Awan-Secretary General Pakistan Workers Federation, Mr. Jamaluddin Khan, Program Officer, UN Women, Mrs. Anita Khawaja-Project Manager - Select Anwar Khawaja Industries Health & Education Program (SAHEP) and Mr. Shahid Ali-General Manager-Forward Sports (Pvt) Ltd. Through a panel discussion, these participants drew consensus on the need to:
The partnership seeks to advance decent work by promoting socially responsible labour practices among the Games’ delivery partners based on the guidance provided by the ILO’s MNE Declaration. The partnership would encourage enterprises to play a positive role in promoting decent work through corporate social responsibility to achieve sustainable development leading up to 2020. In the context of Tokyo 2020 partnership, the ILO would encourage the actors involved in sports goods industry as well as the sports federations including Pakistan Olympic Association to play their positive role in promoting decent work in Pakistan.
Various speakers graced the occasion and underscore the importance and impact of the project in promoting decent work in the sports goods industry.
The Chief Guest, Mr. Noor Zaman, Senior Joint Secretary from the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis & Human Resource Development (MOPHRD) noted with satisfaction that the project contributed to the priorities set out under Pakistan’s third Decent Work Country Program. He commended the ILO’s & implementing partners’ role in furthering the decent work agenda in Pakistan through the project.
The Guest of Honour, Mr. Shinichi Honda, Acting Head, Economic & Development Section, Embassy of Japan congratulated stakeholders for successfully completing the project and making the financial assistance from the Japanese government worthwhile. He said that the project had contributed to promoting decent work and had enhanced Pakistan’s profile. He added that the achievements under the project were a starting point for further progress in promotion of decent work in Pakistan. He emphasized the need for stakeholders to work continuously to promote the decent work in Pakistan.
Mr. Majyd Aziz, President, Employers Federation of Pakistan (EFP) said the MNE Declaration project had directly benefited the ILO’s constituents as well as the sports goods industry and its workers. He added that based on the lessons learnt from Sialkot initiative, continuity and replication of the MNED project in other industrial hubs of Pakistan was essential. Mr. Aziz went further to add that one of the most important outcomes of the project was the forged alliance of stakeholders in building a strong business case for socially responsible labour practices and decent work to enhance market access for enterprises in Pakistan.
Mr. Neil Buhne, UN Resident Coordinator said that MNED project was one of the examples of the United Nations role enabling the private sector to adopt human rights based approaches in doing business. He added that implementation and enforcement of international labour standards were important to promote sustainable and responsible business. Mr. Buhne also said that various stakeholders need to continue to collaborate to address decent work issues and improve working conditions in Pakistan.
Ms Ingrid Christensen, Director, ILO Country Office for Pakistan while welcoming the participants, thanked all the partners for their extensive collaboration and cooperation towards success of the project. She expressed her gratitude to the Embassy of Japan in Pakistan for cooperation and the Government of Japan for supporting the project. Ms. Christensen said that hundreds of oversea buyers including multinational enterprises/brands were sourcing their products from thousands of large, medium and small sports goods companies in Sialkot, which were used in high profile events s uch as the football world cup and Olympic Games. She mentioned that efforts in Sialkot would be enhanced in the context of a unique partnership agreement between the 2020 Tokyo Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games and the ILO.
Other notable participants shared their experiences and perspectives on the project including Dr. Muhammad Suhail Shahzad-Additional Secretary- Labour & Human Resource Department, Mr. Fasihul Karim Siddiqi-Secretary General-EFP, Mr. Zahoor Awan-Secretary General Pakistan Workers Federation, Mr. Jamaluddin Khan, Program Officer, UN Women, Mrs. Anita Khawaja-Project Manager - Select Anwar Khawaja Industries Health & Education Program (SAHEP) and Mr. Shahid Ali-General Manager-Forward Sports (Pvt) Ltd. Through a panel discussion, these participants drew consensus on the need to:
- further the collaboration among relevant key stakeholders including MNEs with the aim to construct a win-win partnership through social dialogue in Sialkot and replication of the Sialkot model in other industrial sectors of Pakistan such as textile & apparels to improve working conditions and promote women employment;
- improve understanding among the sports goods producers and constituents of the key elements of MNE Declaration and enhance awareness on the importance of Decent Work in remaining competitive and sustainable amongst the MNEs;
- renew cooperation with the sports associations such as Pakistan Olympic Association;
- establish tripartite National Focal Point on the MNE Declaration.
The partnership seeks to advance decent work by promoting socially responsible labour practices among the Games’ delivery partners based on the guidance provided by the ILO’s MNE Declaration. The partnership would encourage enterprises to play a positive role in promoting decent work through corporate social responsibility to achieve sustainable development leading up to 2020. In the context of Tokyo 2020 partnership, the ILO would encourage the actors involved in sports goods industry as well as the sports federations including Pakistan Olympic Association to play their positive role in promoting decent work in Pakistan.