Pakistan engages BD, Philippines on labour

Pakistan on Sunday stepped up labour diplomacy by engaging Bangladesh and the Philippines on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi Dialogue, exchanging views on shared challenges faced by overseas workers and exploring cooperation in skills development, training systems and migrant welfare frameworks.

Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Chaudhry Salik Hussain met Bangladesh's Adviser for Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, Dr Asif Nazrul, where both sides discussed workforce mobility, recruitment practices and strategies to better prepare expatriate labour for international markets.

The Pakistani delegation briefed the meeting on initiatives of the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC), while Bangladesh shared insights into the functioning of its Technical Training Centres (TTCs), with both sides expressing interest in structured collaboration on human resource development.

Opportunities for expanding bilateral cooperation in education, health, tourism and trade were also discussed, while the chairman of the Employees' Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) outlined Pakistan's social protection mechanisms for workers, including institutional mandates and coverage objectives.

In a separate engagement, Hussain held talks with Philippines' Department of Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo J Cacdac, focusing on social security systems, pension models and legal frameworks, governing migrant labour protection.

The EOBI chairman briefed the Philippine delegation on Pakistan's eligibility criteria, benefit structures and financial model, while Manila shared details of its pension system and comprehensive pre-departure training programmes for overseas workers.