Industrial Relation Act and new labour policy would be announced on International Labour Day falling on May 1, and is based on four pillars including consolidation of laws, advocacy, promotion and export of manpower.
Addressing in an interactive dialogue session on "Activating Media in Combating Worst Forms of Child Labour", Secretary Ministry of Labour and Manpower Tariq Poori said the government would introduce smart card policy through which computerised data of employees, with their expertise, would be maintained.
He said it would also help them avail facilities announced for their welfare including residential place, marriage grant, health care, scholarship etc. The seminar was organised by Employer's Federation of Pakistan in collaboration with International Labour Organisation (ILO).
The secretary said the ministry has also initiated a massive skill education programme in collaboration with international institutions. Speaking as the keynote speaker, Zahid Malik, Editor Pakistan Observer said major decline has been observed in manpower export during the last few years due to lack of skilled labour.
He asked media persons to play their role for creating awareness among the masses and discourage child labour, especially domestic labour in the society. Malik observed that a mature society always discusses economic issues but in Pakistan, people usually discuss politics and related matter, adding that a society could not progress until it starts focusing on economic and financial issues.
Haji Javed, President Employer's Federation of Pakistan (EFP) said child labour is a sensitive issue. He said that children are the earning hands for their poor families and without raising the living standard of such families, this problem could not be addressed. He informed the participants that EFP has launched a project of imparting skill training to the children of such families who are forced to send their children to work due to poverty.
He said that EFP also provides free of cost technical training to orphans. He said that skill learning culture could help increase manpower export and also create job opportunities within the country. Javed lauded role of media which has taken the issue as its social responsibility, adding.
According to findings of a report in 2000, 246 million children were involved in child labour globally but due to the efforts of media, this figure has been reduced to 218 million in 2004, showing a decline of 11 percent. During the same period, he maintained, 26 percent decrease has been observed in the worst forms of child labour ie from 171 million in 2000 to 126 in 2004.
Saifullah Chaudhary from International Labour Organisation, speaking on the occasion informed that a new child labour survey would be held soon in which ILO would provide technical services to the government. On the occasion, Secretary Ministry of Labour and Manpower Tariq Poori announced annual child reporting award for journalists. President EFP Haji Tariq also announced a separate media award for journalists reporting child labour issues.
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