KARACHI: The Government of Sindh jointly with stakeholders has developed a consensus for action plan to prevent Baldia Factory Fire like Incidents in future. The action plan will include various initiatives to be implemented for the improvement of Labour Inspection System, Occupational Safety and Health, Work Insurance Scheme.
This was announced by Secretary Labour Department Sindh Arif Elahi while delivering the speech in workshop on topic: “Promoting Workplace Safety & Health in Sindh” held here on Thursday at local hotel. This workshop engaged the Tripartite consultation between Workers, Employers and Government.
The Labour Department Sindh will launch the Action Plan by end of January 2013. The objective of this consultation was to help promote safety and health at workplace with the technical support of International Labour Organization ILO.
Secretary Labour further said that his department will not tolerate any slackness in the enforcement of relevant labour laws.
ILO Country Director Francesco d’Ovidio said that ILO will provide all technical facilities to the Sindh Labour department for development and implementation of Plan of Action to promote safety and health at workplace.
Zahoor Awan General Secretary Pakistan Workers Federation PWF, while appreciating the efforts of the Sindh Labour Department and ILO, demanded that workers must be registered and should not be considered as machines or tools.
Zaki Ahmed, Acting President of Employers Federation of Pakistan EFP also suggested that employers should be made aware of safety related legislations and implication of noncompliance.
This workshop was jointly organized by Sindh Labour Department, ILO, EFP and PWF. More than 250 representatives of government, employers, workers, civil society, academic, International buyers, and Social Auditing Agencies participated in the day long technical deliberations.
The workshop recommended for Government to consider extending Social Security coverage to the informal sector, Government should ensure that employer register their work force under the social Security scheme; and harmonize social security schemes.