Programmes and projects

The ILO operates a wide range of programmes and projects in Pakistan. The overall purpose of this technical cooperation is to support implementation of the Decent Work Agenda.

2026

  1. © ILO 2024

    Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work in the Cotton Supply Chain: RISE for Impact – A New Phase, A New Vision

    2 March 2023 - 2 March 2026

    The project funded by INDITEX aim to scale up the community model developed under the first phase of the project, in order to foster a partnership approach among the actors for enhanced respect for FPRW in cotton growing communities and a sustainable cotton supply chain in Pakistan.

2025

  1. Building resilience for the future of work and the post COVID19: Promoting rights and social inclusion through organization and formalization (PRS) Phase II

    1 December 2022 - 30 November 2025

    The project aims to contribute to the reduction of decent work deficits and gender inequalities in the informal economy and promote the transition to the formal economy in Nepal, India and Pakistan.

2024

  1. © ILO 2024

    From Protocol to Practice: A Bridge to Global Action on Forced Labour (The Bridge Project II)

    1 May 2023 - 31 December 2024

    The Bridge Project funded by United States Department of Labour (USDOL) aims to combat forced labour globally. It seeks to raise awareness and ratifications of the ILO Protocol 29, improve national policies, conduct research, strengthen worker and employers' organizations, and provide support to victims of forced labour.

  2. International Labour and Environmental Standards Application in Pakistan’s SMEs (ILES)

    1 September 2016 - 30 September 2024

    In partnership with the Delegation of the European Union to Pakistan, the ILO office for Pakistan supports tripartite partners and other stakeholders to strengthen national labour and environmental standards compliance with international standards to increase competitiveness, sustainable and inclusive growth in Pakistan. The project’s interventions in selected enterprises in textile and leather sectors also develops business cases for compliance with labour and environmental standards.

  3. Governance of Labour Migration in South and South-East Asia (GOALS)

    1 August 2020 - 31 January 2024

    The Project is conceived in response to various facets of labour migration, fair and ethical recruitment and sustainable reintegration, gaps and challenges relating to safe, orderly and regular labour migration and improved skills recognition, in the corridors between South and South-East Asia and the Middle East. The project is designed on the first phase of the SDC supported regional project, “Strengthening Labour Migration Governance through Regional Cooperation in Colombo Process Countries”.

2023

  1. Promotion of Decent Work Opportunities for the Economic Empowerment of Vulnerable Segments of Society

    1 January 2019 - 31 December 2023

    Decent Work is a measure to reduce poverty and inequalities in the society. This project proposed three distinct sets of interventions to promote decent work opportunities in Pakistan for vulnerable groups including Child and Bonded Labourers in Brick Kiln Sector, Social Protection; and engaging Pakistani diaspora in Italy.

  2. The Asia Regional Child Labour (ARC) Project

    1 May 2019 - 30 October 2023

    Funded by Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, (UK), the ARCL Programme aims at assisting the ILO constituents and other stakeholders in Pakistan to eliminate child labour in particular the worst forms of child labour, which in turn contributes to the achievement of SDG 8.7 by 2025.

  3. Asia Regional Child Labour Programme (ARC)

    2 May 2019 - 30 September 2023

    The Asia Regional Child Labour Programme (ARC) aims to reduce vulnerability to child labour and enhance protection of children from exploitation in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Myanmar and Pakistan to contribute to the eradication of child labour, particularly its worst forms.

  4. Eliminating Child Labour and Forced Labour in the Cotton, Textile and Garment Value Chains: An Integrated Approach

    1 March 2018 - 28 February 2023

    The CLEAR Cotton project “Eliminating Child Labour and Forced Labour in the Cotton, Textile and Garment Value Chains: An Integrated Approach” seeks to promote enhanced legislation and policies, to address the basic needs and rights of children engaged or at risk of child labour, and of victims of forced labour, while adopting an integrated area based approach, embedded in a value chain approach including cooperation with local industry and international buyers.

  5. Promoting Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work in the Cotton Supply Chain

    10 May 2017 - 28 February 2023

    The project aims to foster a partnership approach among the partners on promoting Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work (FPRW) for a sustainable cotton supply chain in Pakistan.

2021

  1. Trade for Decent Work Project

    1 January - 31 December 2021

    The project aims at improving the application of the ILO Conventions on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work under the framework of EU special incentive arrangement for Sustainable Development and Good Governance (GSP+)

  2. Achieving SDGs and ending poverty through Universal Social Protection

    1 December 2018 - 30 June 2021

    The implementation partners (UN DESA and ILO) will build on the methodology of the ILO's Global Flagship Programme on Building Social Protection Floors for All (2016-30) at the country level, combined with a global component to focus on the development of practical knowledge base.

  3. Global Action to Improve the Recruitment Framework of Labour Migration (REFRAME)

    1 September 2018 - 31 January 2021

    The overall objective of REFRAME is to contribute in reducing abusive practices and violations of human and labour rights and enhancing the protection of migrant workers during the recruitment process.

2020

  1. Implementation of the Agreement concerning additional employment injury benefits to the victims of the Ali Enterprises fire and strengthening of the employment injury insurance and benefit system in Sindh Province

    1 January 2018 - 31 December 2020

    On 11 September 2012, more than 255 workers were killed and 55 injured in the fire at the garment factory in Baldia, Karachi, considered as the most serious industrial accident in Pakistan’s history. At the request of the Government of Pakistan the ILO from 2016 onwards, worked closely with international and national stakeholders to reach an agreement for the financial settlement of additional and voluntary compensation to the beneficiaries provided by KiK Textilien.

  2. More and Better Jobs through Socially Responsible Labour Practices in Pakistan

    15 February 2015 - 31 December 2020

    In partnership with the Employers’ Federation of Pakistan and the Pakistan Sports Goods Manufacturers & Exporters Association (PSGMEA), the ILO Office for Pakistan is implementing the project that aims to foster a partnership approach between MNEs and their direct suppliers on advancing socially responsible labour practices.

  3. Sustaining strengthened national capacities to improve International Labour Standards compliance and reporting in relevant EU trading partners

    1 April 2018 - 31 March 2020

    The EU Special Incentive Arrangement for Sustainable Development and Good Governance ('GSP+) was granted to Pakistan in January, 2014. Continuity of GSP+ is conditioned on better compliance and reporting on 27 UN conventions including the eight fundamental labour standards of the ILO. The EU monitors the compliance through multiple means including a biennial assessment. The EU’s 2018 assessment covering the period 2016 – 2017 stated that there had been some progress and commitment to improving the implementation of the ILO fundamental conventions. This project funded by the European Union, will continue to assist ILO’s tripartite constituents in Pakistan to strengthen their efforts towards better compliance and reporting on the ILO’s fundamental conventions.

2019

  1. Labour standards in global supply chains: A programme for action in Asia and the garment sector in Pakistan

    1 December 2014 - 31 March 2019

    In collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the Labour Standards in Global Supply Chains: A Programme of Action for Asia and the Garment Sector (LSGSC) project has addressed critical challenges relating to labour standards and working conditions in garment sector global supply chains (GSCs) in the Asia region, focusing on the project’s three target countries: Cambodia, Indonesia and Pakistan, as well as through global and regional components.

  2. Support to trading partners including GSP+ beneficiary countries to effectively implement ILS and comply with reporting obligations

    1 September 2016 - 31 January 2019

    The project will Support and collaborate with ILO’s tripartite constituents and other relevant stakeholders in application of ILO C-100 (Equal Remuneration Convention - 1951) and ILO Convention C-111 (Discrimination- Employment and Occupations - 1958).

2018

  1. Strengthening Labour Inspection System for Promoting Labour Standards and Ensuring Workplace Compliance in Pakistan

    1 July 2015 - 31 December 2018

    In partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, the ILO in Pakistan will help strengthen institutional mechanisms for effective labour inspection; enhance human resource capacities in the country to enforce the law on labour inspections and partner with the private sector to promote international labour standards and ensure their compliance by enterprises.

  2. Improving the livelihood and working conditions of the vulnerable workers – particularly women, in the Rural Agro-food economy through Value Chain Development

    1 January - 30 June 2018

    The ILO in partnership with UNIDO is implementing a One UN Joint pilot project, which aims at improving the livelihood and working conditions in the selected agro-food value chain in Gilgit Baltistan Province of Pakistan. The project- through a set of gender-responsive interventions will engage with partners and producers; address the deficits in productivity and working conditions by skills development; instituting simple technology and awareness-raising on the key elements of Decent Work.