Workers' welfare: Punjab aims to improve workplace safety
Two-year plan introduced to meet labour standards and qualify for full access to EU
ISLAMABAD:
The Punjab government has introduced a two-year programme for complying with the international labour standards for the welfare of workers and getting full access to the European markets.
The Punjab Labour and Human Resource Department has initiated the project, namely ‘Capacity Development of Industry to Promote Compliance with Labour Standards’ on July 1 which will conclude on June 6, 2016. The report on the two-year project was submitted by Additional Advocate General Punjab Razaq A Mirza in the Supreme Court in a suo motu case regarding the death of workers in stone-crushing factories.
The cost of this project is Rs55.04 million. A copy of the report is available with The Express Tribune.
The project has four components, namely, capacity building of officers of labours department, carrying out in-house training sessions for employees of the industry, carrying out on-site training sessions for workers of the enterprise and carrying out workplace risk assessment of hazards.
The report says that after the passage of the 18th amendment, this is the responsibility of provinces to provide facilities to comply with the international standards for the welfare of labours.
“Pakistan has already lost $150 million worth of business from the US companies on the ground of failing to meet international health and safety standards while handling orders,” the report notes.
It cautions, “Pakistan would have to join the Better Work Programme (BWP) in case it wanted to avoid such an embarrassing situation in the near future.” The Punjab labour department admits that Pakistan has failed to respond to the International Labour Organisation due to the poor labour conditions and weak monitoring and enforcement system in a timely manner, adding that working conditions in Punjab have deteriorated ever since the abolition of labour inspections a few years ago.
Cases such as recent factory fires in different cities highlight the weakness in the enforcement of labour laws.
It also notes that in Pakistan, every day, 30 workers receive injury at workplace; their morale is low which reduces health and socio-economic developmental problems.
The number of registered labour in Punjab is 745,000. The number of registered brick kilns in Punjab is around 5,500, the report states.
The report says that Pakistan has attained long-awaited GSP Plus status by which it has easy access to EU markets. For this purpose, the country has to implement 27 core conventions of UN.
It also mentions that by implementing this project, it will create awareness about occupational health and safety issue among the workers, workplace accident rate will be reduced and international buyers will be inclined to do more business with the Pakistani firms because of auditor satisfaction.
Meanwhile, in compliance with the top court’s order, the Punjab Environment Protection Agency has submitted a progress report about pending adjudication before Environment Tribunal.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 6th, 2014.
The Punjab government has introduced a two-year programme for complying with the international labour standards for the welfare of workers and getting full access to the European markets.
The Punjab Labour and Human Resource Department has initiated the project, namely ‘Capacity Development of Industry to Promote Compliance with Labour Standards’ on July 1 which will conclude on June 6, 2016. The report on the two-year project was submitted by Additional Advocate General Punjab Razaq A Mirza in the Supreme Court in a suo motu case regarding the death of workers in stone-crushing factories.
The cost of this project is Rs55.04 million. A copy of the report is available with The Express Tribune.
The project has four components, namely, capacity building of officers of labours department, carrying out in-house training sessions for employees of the industry, carrying out on-site training sessions for workers of the enterprise and carrying out workplace risk assessment of hazards.
The report says that after the passage of the 18th amendment, this is the responsibility of provinces to provide facilities to comply with the international standards for the welfare of labours.
“Pakistan has already lost $150 million worth of business from the US companies on the ground of failing to meet international health and safety standards while handling orders,” the report notes.
It cautions, “Pakistan would have to join the Better Work Programme (BWP) in case it wanted to avoid such an embarrassing situation in the near future.” The Punjab labour department admits that Pakistan has failed to respond to the International Labour Organisation due to the poor labour conditions and weak monitoring and enforcement system in a timely manner, adding that working conditions in Punjab have deteriorated ever since the abolition of labour inspections a few years ago.
Cases such as recent factory fires in different cities highlight the weakness in the enforcement of labour laws.
It also notes that in Pakistan, every day, 30 workers receive injury at workplace; their morale is low which reduces health and socio-economic developmental problems.
The number of registered labour in Punjab is 745,000. The number of registered brick kilns in Punjab is around 5,500, the report states.
The report says that Pakistan has attained long-awaited GSP Plus status by which it has easy access to EU markets. For this purpose, the country has to implement 27 core conventions of UN.
It also mentions that by implementing this project, it will create awareness about occupational health and safety issue among the workers, workplace accident rate will be reduced and international buyers will be inclined to do more business with the Pakistani firms because of auditor satisfaction.
Meanwhile, in compliance with the top court’s order, the Punjab Environment Protection Agency has submitted a progress report about pending adjudication before Environment Tribunal.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 6th, 2014.