2017

1. The Pakistan Buyers’ Forum

   5 April 2017

   The ILO, with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, IFC and IDH, supported a meeting of the Pakistan Buyers’ Forum in Lahore. Members presented successful models of sustainable production practices. They also had the opportunity to discuss the textile and garment sector in Pakistan, its challenges and the implications of Pakistan’s GSP+ status with the Dutch Ambassador for Human Rights, His Excellency Mr Kees van Baar, as part of his visit to Pakistan. Discussions were also held with members of the diplomatic and development community, including representatives of the European Union Mission to Pakistan, Embassy of the United States and Japan International Development Agency. The Forum will take forward plans to build linkages with industry trade associations and strengthen ties with Pakistan’s government.

2. Workshop on MNE Declaration and Fundamental Principles & Rights at Work

   14 - 16 March 2017

   A three day workshop on MNE Declaration and Fundamental Principles & Rights at Work is being organized for the ILO’s constituents (government, employers and workers organizations), trade bodies/business associations, representatives of brands/sourcing companies, trade unions, Directors/HR/CSR/Compliance Managers of the export oriented sports goods manufacturers in Sialkot and members of the Task Force established under the Project.

3. Capacity development workshop of Trade Union members of AJK

   22 - 23 February 2017

   The Department of Labour (DoL) of AJK with the assistance of ILO and Pakistan Workers Federation (PWF) is organizing a 2-day training for different labour union representatives of AJK. The overall objective of this training is the strengthening of tripartite labour administration system through capacity building of Trade Unions in AJK. Mr Zahoor Awan, General Secretary PWF, will facilitate this training and help AJK Trade Union representatives to better understand their role in freedom of association, collective bargaining, collection of funds, and move towards a Trade Union Federation

4. Training of Labour Inspectors on Effective Labour Inspection in Sindh Province

   14 - 16 February 2017

   This three days training event envisage to build the technical capacity of the Labour Inspectors of Sindh province.

5. Three days’ Workshop on improving the compliance & reporting of Core Labour Standards

   8 February - 10 January 2017

   ILO in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development and with the financial assistance of European Union organized a tri-partite plus consultation workshop to contribute to greater understanding of international labour standards and also support evolving a national action plan to strengthen compliance and reporting of core international labour standards

6. National Tripartite Consultation on Labour Legislation in Post-Devolution Scenario

   17 - 18 January 2017

   In backdrop of 18th Constitutional Amendment in Pakistan and devolution of ‘Labour’ as a subject to the Provincial Governments, all four Provincial Governments as well as some of the Regions & States have started a labour legislation process to provincialize all important labour laws. Different approaches were adopted for this purpose and each Province and Region is at a different level of completing this important process. In order to grasp the current situation of Provincial & Regional Labour Legislation, understanding the provincial priorities, and challenges in enforcement of Labour Laws, the 7th Federal Tripartite Consultative Committee (FTCC) meeting held on 24th November 2016, decided to organize a National Tripartite-plus Consultation. It is the first ever opportunity for the Federal and Provincial Tripartite Consultative Committee members to sit together and jointly review labour legislation process – and plan a way forward.

2016

1. Seminar on ‘Role of Overseas Pakistanis in National Development’

   22 December 2016

   In commemoration of the ‘International Migrants Day’, ILO is providing technical support to the Government of Pakistan, Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) – a subsidiary of the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development (OP&HRD) for organizing a seminar on ‘Role of Overseas Pakistanis in National Development’. The seminar will discuss different options and possibilities for enhancing role of Pakistan diaspora in promoting economic growth and decent work opportunities in Pakistan. For this purpose, different options for facilitating overseas Pakistanis in their endeavours for investment and technical inputs will be discussed in the event.

2. Training of Labour Inspectors of Sindh Province on Effective Labour Inspection

   20 - 22 December 2016

   This three days training intends to build the technical capacity of the Labour Inspectors of Sindh province.

3. Awareness Raising Seminar on Child Labour

   19 - 22 December 2016

   Awareness raising seminars at field centres of Bulleh Shah Packaging, on elimination of child labour and promotion of decent work, will be conducted in Punjab and Sindh.

4. 32nd Annual Conference of ‘Pakistan Society of Development Economists’ with a focus on ‘China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)’

   13 - 15 December 2016

   ILO provided partial support to the 32nd Annual Conference of PSDE on ‘China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)’ primarily due to its relevance with Labour Market Dynamics. The ILO Senior Employment Specialist, Mr Nomaan Majid from DWT-Delhi participated in one of the eight Panel Discussions and elaborated the pre-requisites for enhancing decent work opportunities through mega development programme of China and Pakistan.

5. Training of Labour Inspectors of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Province on Effective Labour Inspection

   5 - 7 December 2016

   This three days training attempted to build the technical capacity of 30 Labour Inspectors of KP province.

6. Social Protection Training Workshop

   5 - 6 December 2016

   ILO supported a two-day training course for District Social Protection Committees in the piloting districts (Nowshera & Dir-Lower) on the implementation of “Coordinated Social Protection under One Window Operation” (CSPOWO). The course was jointly organized by Government of KP, GIZ and ILO.

7. Provincial Steering Committee Meeting of Social Protection Initiative-Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP)

   5 December 2016

   ILO supported the meeting which approved the Social Protection Strategy and piloting a One-Window-Operation for Social Protection in the province. This is the highest platform for Social Protection activities in the Province. The meeting also reviewed progress achieved so-far and discussed the future course of action till end of 2017.

8. 16 days of activism against gender based violence

   1 December 2016

   The 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence is an international campaign originating from the first Women's Global Leadership Institute sponsored by the Center for Women's Global Leadership in 1991. On December 1, 2016, ILO celebrated the ORANGE DAY at provincial office, Lahore to raise awareness to END Violence against Women. Provincial staff of ILO , WFP, and UN Women were present during Cake-cutting ceremony. The day ended with the pledge, "Unite to end violence against women”.

9. Training needs of BSP management assessed

   2 November 2016

   Sensitization of the management of Bulleh Shah Packaging (BSP) is one of the key components under public-private partnership between the ILO and Stora Enso on promoting decent work and combat child labour in the value chain of BSP, Stora Enso’s joint venture in Pakistan. According, a Training Needs Assessment [TNA] was conducted with 24 representatives of BSP management. It would help to design/develop a comprehensive program for sensitization sessions to be conducted for all tier of BSP management.

10. Empowering the Disempowered through Promoting Gender Equality for Decent Employment

    31 October 2016

    Showcase event by GE4DE to disseminate the project results; good practices; approaches; and the lessons learnt to all stakeholders and solicit their valuable inputs for future course of action.

11. Launch of Labour Migration Research Publications

    27 October 2016

    International Labour Organization under its EU funded project “South Asia labour Migration Governance (SALM)” has commissioned following researches on various aspects of the labour migration from Pakistan to GCC countries. The main purpose of the researches is to understand in depth various thematic areas of labour migration, challenges and opportunities. The official launch has been planned to generate discussion and take forward researches recommendations at implementation level.

12. Pakistan Business Network for Social Protection (2nd meeting)

    18 October 2016

    The Pakistan Business Network on Social Protection (PBN-SP) was launched in Karachi on 11th August 2016 under the auspices of the Employers’ Federation of Pakistan (EFP). The Network will become part of the ‘Global Business Network on Social Protection (GBN-SP)’ launched by the Director General of ILO. The purpose of this network is to enable employers and the Employers’ Organization of Pakistan to better understand the importance of social protection for a fair and inclusive development, and how it can contribute to economic and social performance of enterprise; identify the main pitfalls of the current social protection system: To discuss what are the elements from an employer perspective that can contribute to explain why social protection is not enforced; and determine possible actions from employers and EFP, to contribute to overcome current pitfall and allow for better compliance. The 2nd meeting of PBN-SP will discuss organizational structure and resources required for taking forward the agenda of Social Protection in Pakistan.

13. Tripartite Consultation on Labour Laws for Islamabad Capital Territory

    17 October 2016

    ILO is currently supporting the Islamabad Capital Administration for drafting and promulgating Labour Laws in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) – which was necessitated after the 18th Constitutional Amendment. For this purpose, the Government has adopted the recommendations of Justice Shafi ur Rehman Commission to consolidate and codify Labour Laws in five major Codes. Two of these Codes are drafted and were presented to the tripartite stakeholders of ICT review and feedback. The Tripartite Stakeholders had sought more time to review these laws and will now provide their inputs in a follow-up tripartite meeting organized on 17th October 2016.

14. Future of Work Consultation – Tripartite Stakeholders of Punjab

    7 October 2016

    The Government of Pakistan is member of ILO since 1947 and is represented on the Governing Body since more than two decades. As part of ILO’s centenary events, the Government of Pakistan has organized a series of national seminars titled ‘Future of Work’ to obtain feedback from all walks of life (Government, Employers, Workers, Youth, Academia, Media etc) on future shape of work in Pakistan. In this regard, the dialogue with tripartite stakeholders (Government, Employers and Workers) from Punjab is organized on 7th October 2016 in the Conference Room of the Industrial Relations Institute (IRI), Lahore. Similar events will be organized with other stakeholders in other provinces as well.