PESHAWAR, June 14: Speakers at the seminar ‘No to Child Labour’ underscored the importance of a joint effort from all stakeholders, including civil society, the government and media to put an end to child labour. The event which took place at the Peshawar Press Club (PPC) on World Day against Child Labour was arranged by the Provincial Child Labour Unit (PCLU) and International Labour Organization (ILO). The chief guest, Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) lawmaker Meraj Humayun Khan, spoke about the birth of the child labour movement in Pakistan. It started in coordination with the ILO in 1994; over the years repeated efforts have been made to bring all stakeholders onboard to address this very pressing issue. An increase in underage employment can be attributed to population explosion … [Read more...]
Made in Sialkot: Child labour free footballs a success story, says ILO
LAHORE, June 14th: The north-eastern city of Sialkot is being hailed as a success story in the fight against child labour in Pakistan by the International Labour Organisation (ILO). Sialkot, a city famous for producing millions of footballs each year, will likely supply the upcoming 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. The ILO Country Director Francesco d’Ovidio believes that there will be no misery or exploitation of children in Sialkot to mar the joy of sport. Talking to The Express Tribune on June 12 – The World Day Against Child Labour – d’Ovidio explained that combating child labour is possible with ongoing effort. “The ILO has been working in Sialkot with several companies and factories that previously employed children. We created awareness among them and today, no factories … [Read more...]
Quetta seminar highlights high prevalence of child labour
QUETTA, June 13: Lamenting lack of efforts to control child labour, speakers at a seminar on June 12 revealed the high prevalence of the menace in mining sector. The seminar was held to mark the World Day Against Child Labour by the Labour Welfare Department of Balochistan in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation (ILO). On the occasion, ILO representative Bushra Khalid said that during visits to mining sites in Balochistan she and her colleagues had found children working as labourers inside mines, including coalmines. She termed child labour in the sector as the worst violation of human rights. She said the government officials and other stakeholders charged with protecting children were simply not fulfilling their responsibilities. “Neither the parliament … [Read more...]
Speakers for safeguarding workers’ rights
LAHORE, June 10: The rights of all workers irrespective of their country of origin should be fully protected as regards `decent living and working conditions’. This was observed by speakers at a consultative workshop here on June 7. International Labour Organization (ILO) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) organised the event to seek inputs to address `decent work deficits of workers, including women/children, from Afghan refugees and hosting communities’. Zahoor Awan, General Secretary Pakistan Workers Federation, UNHCR representative Yasir Ayaz Khan, representative of Employers Federation of Pakistan Ahmad Husnain, Syed Zaigham Khan from Punjab Labour Department and Ms. Kanwal Tariq from the Commissionerate of afghan Refugee (CAR). They stressed … [Read more...]
Provinces okay action plans against child, bonded labour
ISLAMABAD, June 4: All provincial labour departments agreed on action plans to revise labour legislations regarding child and bonded labour and subsequent actions. Moreover, the Ministry of Human Resource Development and provincial labour departments have also agreed on action plans to improve reporting on International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions. These action plans are spread over three months to two years. The action plans also include steps to strength the capacity of labour inspection, awareness creation, and improved reporting for policy actions, and computerisation of labour inspection system. This was agreed in a four-day workshop organised by the ILO, and was partially funded by the Canadian International Development Agency, at a local hotel from May 29 to June 1, … [Read more...]