The enlightened employers will support all pragmatic policies that are for labour welfare provided the government implements these through a transparent and business friendly manner. The announcement of the Sindh Home Based Workers Policy is appreciated and there is need to take employers in confidence before introducing the law in Sindh Assembly+IB0-.
This was stated by Majyd Aziz, President Employers Federation of Pakistan, while speaking at the Conference for Finalising the Implementation Strategies for Home Based Workers Policy in Sindh organised by PILER and Homenet Pakistan. Majyd Aziz talked about the key challenges that are imperative and need to be addressed. He said there are varying figures of 5 million to 12 million women home based workers. They are widely scattered in the informal sector, their dissent is suppressed, there is little awareness of their legal rights, there is general apathy among employers in the informal sector, and there is ineffectiveness of concerned government officials in regulating and implementing any progressive policy.
Majyd Aziz further said that the ILO Convention 177 on Home Based Work had only been ratified by 10 out of 193 countries and this speaks volumes of the lack of interest by most of the countries. Pakistan has also not ratified it. He also said that in 2011, a year after passing of the 18th Amendment, the National Policy on Home Based Workers was introduced but no progress has been seen. He called for a comprehensive uniform policy by all Provinces rather than each Province making its own policy.
Majyd Aziz emphasised that firstly the grounds are prepared through feasible legislation on the issue of Home Based Workers before we consider ratification of the Convention. Moreover, the provincial legislation should also ensure that the law does not result in curtailment of employment instead of generating it and that industry and welfare oriented measures were adopted while initiating legislation in this area.
Majyd Aziz also stated that under GSP Plus, European Union would stipulate that Pakistani exporters must ensure that their small vendors are cognisant of their responsibilities to the workers and for providing decent work and proper working environment. The Conference was also addressed by Former Justice Majida Rizvi, Karamat Ali, Mehnaz Rehman, Habibuddin Junaidi, Ume Laila, Zehra Goawala, Farhat Fatima and other activists.-PR
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