2015

1. ILO-LRP's Strategy on DRR

   15 March 2015

   : Soliciting innovative ideas from stakeholders and the partner UN agencies on how to increase the resilience of informal jobs and micro- enterprises against the recurring disasters, insecurities and threats? Ideas will culminate into ILO-LRP’s DRR strategy.

2. ‘Buyers Forum’ on Textiles in Pakistan

   27 February 2015

   Members of the buyers forum, formed as a result of the Buyers meeting in Dec 2014, will meet to organise themselves, endorse and agree on a Governance Structure that will facilitate the operation of the Buyers’ Forum on Textiles in Pakistan. The outcomes of the preparatory session will be taken up as key discussion points for the First Buyers Forum Meeting to be held in April 2015. This preparatory session is being planned in Karachi on the side of the upcoming Textile Expo Fair on 27 February.

3. Round Table on child care with parliamentarians from Sindh

   24 February 2015

   Round table discussion bridging to share low cost child care models and devise resolutions on issues child care providers, working parents, employers and government face.

4. Training of trainers course for trade unions in Pakistan on Decent Work for migrant workers

   24 - 25 February 2015

   The ILO under its EU funded “South Asia Labour Migration Governance Project” will organize a two days ToT course for trade unionists in Pakistan. The aim of this capacity building initiative is to equip the trade union management with latest knowledge around international, regional and national legal instruments and framework for the protection of the migrant workers’ rights and skills to perform their role and responsibilities in the contemporary world to ensure decent work for migrant.

5. Round Table on child care with parliamentarians from Punjab

   19 February 2015

   Round table discussion bridging to share low cost child care models and devise resolutions on issues child care providers, working parents, employers and government face.

6. Forging Public Private Partnership for Promoting Decent Work in Garment and Textile Industry in Faisalabad

   17 February 2015

   A signing ceremony to formalise the collaboration between ILO and Pakistan Textiles Exporters Association on Promoting Decent Work in Garment and Textile Industry in Faisalabad is being held on February 17, 2015 in Marriott Hotel Islamabad. The event will feature signing of a Partnership Agreement between the ILO and PTEA that entails a comprehensive framework on improving industrial relations through training and compliance with International Labour Standards including occupational safety and health, wages, nature of employment, discrimination and other forms of exploitative labour practices. As well as strengthening employers’ and workers’ organizations in garment and textile industry. Minister for Commerce, Khurram Dastagir and Minster for Water and Power, Chaudhry Abid Sher Ali are expected to grace the event as chief guests. Ministry of Overseas Pakistani and Human Resource Development; Textile Industry and Commerce will be represented by senior officials. While Employers’ Federation of Pakistan and Pakistan Workers’ Federation and representatives from development agencies will also witness the signing ceremony.

7. National Steering Committee-GE4DE Meeting

   10 February 2015

   Second meeting of the National Steering Committee of GE4DE project to get guidance on project strategy and priority areas while sharing achievements and bottlenecks till date.

8. Joint stakeholders meeting: Labour Administration Project

   9 February 2015

   The meeting will be convened by the Ministry OP-HRD in collaboration with the ILO to draw inputs to a proposal on Strengthening Labour Administration for Strengthening ILS in Pakistan. The main actors actors involved in supporting ILS reporting in Pakistan consulted include Frederich Ebert Stiftung (FES) , American Solidarity Centre, PILR and DRI.

9. Second meeting of the Federal Tripartite Consultative Committee on ILS

   27 January 2015

   The second meeting of the Federal Tripartite Consultative Committee on ILS is being held on 27 January 2015 at the Ministry of Overseas Pakistani and Human Resource Development in Islamabad. The FTCC is composed of representatives from the Provincial Departments of Labour , Employers Federation of Pakistan and Pakistan Workers Federation. The second meeting of the FTCC will review important areas including enforcement of provisions of Convention on Tripartite Consultation, C144, through District based social dialogue mechanism, development process of Provincial Labour Laws in post 18th amendment scenario, Labour Inspection reforms – a shift from activity to system based inspection amongst other issues. The Committee will also discuss the way forward for the consolidation and submission of ILS reports due in 2015.

10. First Meeting of the ‘Buyers Forum'

    26 January 2015

    As a follow up to the Buyers Forum established on 16 Dec 2014 as a result of the two days interaction with 17 international buyer representatives on ‘Promoting Decent Work for Sustainable Textile and Garment Sector in Pakistan’, the participants agreed to meet again in January 2015 to discuss the operational modality of the forum and chalk out the priority areas that need policy and programme interventions. The meeting is being held on 26 January and will be facilitated by the International Finance Corporation, Netherlands Government and the International Labour Organization.

11. Training on International Labour Standards Reporting

    21 - 23 January 2015

    A three day training of labour officials will be convened on International Labour Standards covering ILS concepts, practices, and reporting challenges. This training is being held under the auspices of the ILO project of support to the Federal Ministry of Overseas Pakistani and Human Resource Development on “Strengthening ILS Compliance and Reporting in Pakistan”. Provincial officials from department of labour and the representatives from EFP and PWF will participate in the training.

12. Joint Labour Law Review/Gender Focal Person’s (GFP’s) meeting

    15 January 2015

    Meeting to review labour laws while finalizing all feedback and edits to complete province wise drafts for onward submission to respective competent authorities

2014

1. Meeting of the National Tripartite Consultative Committee on International Labour Standards (ILS)

   19 December 2014

   The Ministry of Overseas Pakistani and Human Resource Development is organising the meeting of the National Tripartite Consultative Committee on ILS. The meeting will be participated by the representatives of all Provincial Departments of Labour, Employers’ and Workers’ Organisations (EFP and PWF). The NTCC will deliberate on the ILS reports due for submission in year 2014-15. Other pending issues that will be included in the programme will focus on Complaints mechanism on Freedom of Association, Labour Law Review in line with ILS and stock taking of progress vis-à-vis establishment of the ILS units in the Provinces.

2. Launch of Code of Conduct and National Action Plan on Ethical Recruitment

   17 December 2014

   Pakistan Overseas Employment Promoters Association (POEPA) will unveil their National Action Plan (NAP) on Ethical Recruitment and will sign it to show their commitment and action to promote ethical recruitment practices in Pakistan. POEPA has developed their sectoral Code of Ethical Conduct and NAP with the technical and financial support from ILO under EU funded project South Asia Labour Migration Governance. Action Plan focus on POEPA strengthening, protection of migrant workers, lobbying and advocacy for easy and low cost migration processes, better anticipation of skills needs, exchange good practices at regional level and promotion of ethical recruitment.

3. Media Briefing on Migrant Workers 'Fair Migration: Moving the debate forward'

   17 December 2014

   On the occasion of International Migration Day, ILO and IOM jointly are organizing an interactive briefing session for media representatives. Experts from the ILO, IOM, Government of Pakistan and the European Union will share their thoughts and actions to improve governance of labour migration and realizing decent work for them and role of international stakeholders in saving migrants from abuse and exploitation under the theme for the day “Fair Migration: Moving the debate forward”

4. Buyers meeting

   15 - 16 December 2014

   Over 30 Buyers sourcing garments, textile and apparel will convene in Islamabad to establish the first Buyers Forum in Pakistan. The buyers will discuss sustainable practices and improved compliance and reporting on environmental, labour and health & safety standards and their implementation in the garment and textile sector in Pakistan. This event is co-organized by the ILO, IFC and Royal Dutch Embassy in collaboration in collaboration with the Government of Pakistan.

5. Launch of Pakistan’s Decent Work Country Profile

   15 December 2014

   The Government of Pakistan in collaboration with the ILO will launch the country’s Decent Work Country Profile. Decent Work Country Profiles provide key information for designing and monitoring the Decent Work Country Programmes (DWCP) and represent an advocacy tool to mainstream decent work into national development policies. They are developed with ILO’s tripartite constituents in mind, and are intended to facilitate social dialogue and greater engagement of social partners in the design and implementation of policies and programmes for decent work and broader national development objectives.

6. Knowledge sharing workshop on Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) in Sindh

   28 November 2014

   A Dissemination Event on Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) will take place at Moven Pick Hotel Karachi. In addition to sharing knowledge and experiences on the initial roll out of Joint Action Plan on OSH for Sindh which was developed in 2013, and get feedback from the key stakeholders, the event will advocate for ratification of ILO Convention 155 on OSH by Pakistan. The dissemination event will be graced by the Netherlands Ambassador to Pakistan, Mr Marcel de Vink and Mr Francesco d’Ovidio, Director for ILO Country Office.

7. Textile Summit 2014

   27 November 2014

   The Ministry of Textile Industry is holding the ‘first Textiles Summit’ in Lahore. The Ministry has invited the Prime Minister of Pakistan as Chief Guest and some key Ministers such as Minister for Planning and Commerce. The objectives of the summit are to promote the national textile industry, showcase research and development, explore the latest innovation in textile machinery and technology, provide a networking opportunity for local and international professionals, attract foreign investment, increase export and address issues such as the energy crisis.

8. Tripartite Plus Consultation on Public Private Partnership framework on ILS implementation in textiles sector

   25 October 2014

   The activity directly corresponds to DWCP priorities 1 and 4 on Labour Law Review and Promoting Tripartite Social Dialogue.