Raja Ashfaq Sarwar distributes certificates among training workshop’s participants

Lahore: Punjab Minister for Labor and Human Resource, Raja Ashfaq Sarwar has said that in the post 18th Constitutional amendment scenario where labour issues have been devolved to the provinces, the reliable and effective reporting on International Labour Standards (ILS) has gained more importance for the economic and social development of the country.

The training workshop was organized as part of ILO’s technical assistance to the Government of Pakistan and Punjab to help improve the application and reporting on International Labour Standards.

He said that while addressing the participants of a 3-day Training Workshop with technical support of International Labour Organization (ILO) in Lahore.  More than 35 officials from Federal and Provincial Ministry, Secretaries of Labour Departments from all provinces, Employers Federation of Pakistan and Pakistan Workers Federation attended the training session.

Minister Labor Raja Ashfaq Sarwar highlighted the importance of labour standards and the role of the Federal and provincial governments in ensuring vertical and horizontal coordination and communication for effective reporting. He said that this training is one of the important measures that the Government of Pakistan and Punjab have taken to streamline their reporting obligation on the ratified International Labour Conventions to the ILO’s Supervisory Bodies(Pakistan has ratified 36 out of 189 conventions of which 3 are denounced). He also thanked the ILO for its support to help improve reporting on the international labour standards, meet the country’s GSP Plus requirements and most importantly to promote decent work in the country.

The training was focusing on the ILS reporting in the post 18^thConstitutional Amendment scenario, reporting challenges, types of reports obligated by the ILO constitution and the importance of the tripartite consultations and coordination mechanisms. A plan of action for effective ILS reporting for 2015 was also drawn up as an outcome of the 3 days training, he informed. The International Labor Standards Reporting System will also help in elimination of exploitation of Labor Community and ensure safety of their rights, Raja Ashfaq Sarwar added.

While addressing the participants, Country Director ILO Mr. Francisco D’O Video said that the International labour standards lay down the basic minimum social standards agreed upon by all players in the global economy and these standards rest on the framework that links together trade, finance, environment, human rights and labour. The role of the ILO is to promote this framework to ensure that economic growth and development go along with the creation of decent work, he further said. Mr. Francisco also assured ILO’s commitment to provide necessary technical assistance to the Government of Pakistan in building their capacity on ILS reporting.

Zahoor Awan, General Secretary, Pakistan Workers’ Federation Shahid Mustafa Qureshi, Secretary Labor Ishrat Ali, ILS Specialist Coen Kompier, Saad Gillani and representatives of different employers and workers union also addressed at this occasion. Minister Labor Raja Ashfaq Sarwar distributed the certificates among the successful trainers at the end of workshop