Delegates at the two-day conference underscored the need for continuous, meaningful social dialogue and proactive measures to promote safe, inclusive, and productive workplaces across Pakistan.
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (TW) – Representatives from government, employers’, and workers’ organizations unanimously endorsed a resolution aimed at addressing Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) gaps and strengthening OSH standards for safer, healthier workplaces across the country.
The two-day National Tripartite Labour Conference, held after 15 years, concluded today with a pledge to improve governance structures to strengthen OSH, especially in high-risk sectors. The closing event was attended by Chaudhry Salik Hussain, Federal Minister of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, along with representatives from ILO, employers’ and workers’ organizations and development partner organisations.
The landmark conference, convened by the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development (MOPHRD), with support from the International Labour Organization (ILO), highlighted the importance of ratifying core ILO OSH conventions, strengthening social dialogue, and ensuring a unified approach to labour reforms across provinces.
A joint declaration issued at the closing of the conference underscores Pakistan’s commitment to gender-sensitive OSH policies to better protect women workers. It encourages employers to implement specialized safety measures for women and to ensure consistent monitoring in high-risk, female-dominated sectors, while also supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in adopting OSH measures through financial incentives.
Federal Minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain, in his closing remarks, stated that the conference is only the beginning and sets the foundation for ongoing collaboration and dialogue. He further said “From this day forward, our focus will be on mobilizing resources and implementing tangible projects, particularly in high-risk and priority sectors. We will lead by example, creating sustainable practices that can be replicated across industries.”
Geir Tonstol, Country Director for ILO Pakistan, said “As we move forward, it is imperative for the government to utilize the outcomes of this conference to promote OSH through policies, partnerships, advocacy, training, and capacity building. A tripartite approach, in alignment with the government’s initiatives, will bolster social dialogue and strengthen the fabric of the country.”
The conference featured various panel discussions including OSH in female dominated sectors, tripartism for industrial harmony, OSH in high-risk sectors and recent ratifications of international labour standards.
Additionally, the conference declaration emphasizes the importance of collaboration among government, employers, and workers to promote a preventive OSH culture that brings long-term business benefits. It also promotes the use of new technologies to improve worker safety in high-risk sectors such as mining, construction, and ship recycling. With a focus on hazardous industries, the joint declaration calls for a just transition that integrates OSH with environmental sustainability efforts.
Through the declaration, all stakeholders – government, employers and workers – pledge to address gender disparities in workplace safety, mitigate risks in high-risk industries, promote a culture of prevention, and ensure the ratification and enforcement of key labour conventions.