ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan and the Netherlands along with other international bodies have collaborated to uphold international standards and practices in textile and garment industry.
In this regard, the first buyers’ meeting was held here on December 15-16 with the support of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), said a press release.
The Buyers’ Meeting is an initiative supported by the Pakistani government aligned with the common objective of improving productivity and compliance to all the requirements under the GSP Plus status.
This meeting is the beginning of a process, which started in January 2014 and was agreed at a meeting in Washington DC in September 2014, that brings together buyers, brands, manufacturers, governments, workers and employers organisations. The aim is to create a platform for dialogue to improve their cooperation towards a sustainable growth of the sector improving competitiveness and compliance with international standards.
“We recognise the significance of Pakistan’s garment and textile industry to the country’s economic growth, and the jobs it provides for its people,” said Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Pir Syed Sadruddin Shah Rashdi while representing the government in his key note address.
“The step towards establishing a buyers’ forum will help in making significant progress towards ensuring decent working conditions in the sector.”
He also mentioned that with the grant of the GSP Plus status to Pakistan, all the relevant government ministries and associated departments at the federal and provincial levels have come together to ensure concerted efforts for the implementation of Pakistan’s national and international obligations.
He appreciated the European Union, the Netherlands government, ILO and other development partners for their commitment to provide technical assistance in improving compliance and reporting on GSP Plus status.
Ambassador of Netherlands to Pakistan De Vink said that the Netherlands is a free trade nation. But free trade is not free. “It needs to be in compliance with labour standards, human rights and environmental standards,” he added.
“The labour inspectorate has a key role to play in the implementation of the labour standards,” the ambassador added.
The Netherlands is in discussion with ILO regarding financial support to a major project to improve labour conditions in Pakistan. “Strengthening the capacity of the inspectorate, the role of employers and workers in the factories, and the role of global buyers is very important in this respect,” he said.
ILO Office for Pakistan Country Director Francesco d’Ovidio said the process of dialogue between the private and public sector is framed around the principles CSR in which labour standards and social dialogue are key aspects.
“Employment in the textile and garment industry has reduced poverty for millions of workers specifically women across the region,” said IFC Pakistan Senior Country Manager Nadeem Siddiqui who is a member of the World Bank Group.
The event brought together a number of buyers and brands including GAP, Wal-Mart, Target, H&M, Adidas, Levi Strauss, Inditex, Primark, Li & Fung, El Corte Ingles, PVH, Hema, and C&A.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 17th, 2014.
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