ILO calls for improved ILS compliance in the Garment and Textile Sector

LAHORE (ILO News): The Ministry of Textile together with industry associations convened the first ever Textile Summit on 27 November 2014 in Lahore. The Summit brought together stakeholders with the objective 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, deliberate on best practices related to social, labour and OSH compliance, attract foreign investment, increase export and address issues affecting the textile sector such as the energy crisis.

Mr Francesco d’Ovidio-ILO Country Director for Pakistan, Mr Marcel de Vink- Netherlands Ambassador, Ms Jos Huber- Social Compliance Advisor to Netherlands Government, Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar, Federal Minister for Textile and Industry Abbas Khan Afridi, Chairman APTMA, Chairman PTEA, Gohar Ijaz, Mr Asif Sheikh, Joint Secretary, Federal Ministry of Overseas Pakistani and Human Resource Development, and a large number of industrialists associated with textile and garment sectors were present at the summit.

ILO Country Director, Mr Francesco d’Ovidio apprised the industry of the socio-economic implications of non-compliance of textile sector. He appreciated the government’s efforts to ensure GSP+ compliance through effective and timely reporting on ratified conventions. He further added that the ILO is providing technical assistance to the Government of Pakistan in strengthening reporting mechanisms on International Labour Standards. Mr d’Ovidio also informed the summit that the Government of Pakistan with the support of the ILO was moving forward with labour law reform to address the gaps in compliance which at industry level will lead to labour productivity and competitiveness. He updated that a buyers’ event is being planned jointly by ILO, IFC and Dutch Government in collaboration with the Government with the objective of creating a space for stakeholders to meet, share expectations, progress and challenges vis-à-vis compliance issues in textile and garment sector in Pakistan.

Mr Marcel de Vink-Dutch Ambassador stressed upon the textile industry to harmonise public inspections with private audits to ensure quality standards. He assured that supporting the Government's economic reform program is at the top of the EU’s agenda in Pakistan. He also emphasised that improved prospects for economic growth, including good governance in the public and private sector, as well as improved competiveness of Pakistan’s industry, are essential conditions for a more peaceful and stable Pakistan.

Speaking at the same occasion, Federal Minister of Textile Abbas Khan Afridi disclosed that the Government was close to finalising the first draft of the textile policy, and suggested that both the government and industry should jointly explore and exploit the potential of all sectors through public private partnership.

Chief Guest, Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar said that the textile exports to European Union in last seven years have risen to $1 billion. He shared that Pakistan obtained the GSP Plus status after massive lobbying and this preferential market access to EU markets will be a helping hand to growing the national economy and the textile industry of Pakistan would be able to boost its exports to new markets and earn valuable foreign exchange that would in turn lead to job creation. He said that the government is fully committed to working with textile stakeholders to overcome the issues of compliance and to get maximum benefit from GSP Plus status.

For further information please contact:

Ms Rabia Razzaque
National Project Coordinator (ILS Compliance Project)
ILO Country Office for Pakistan
Tel: +92 51 2276456-8
Email