Key Takeaways
- ILO Director General Gilbert F Houngbo praised Punjab’s worker welfare initiatives.
- Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif discussed labor laws and child labor eradication efforts.
- Over 70,000 children have been removed from forced labor and enrolled in schools.
International Labour Organisation (ILO) Director General Gilbert F Houngbo recently commended the provincial government of Punjab for its worker welfare measures during a meeting with Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif.
The Chief Minister highlighted the enforcement of the Punjab Labour Code 2026 and the establishment of the Maryam Nawaz Ration Card programme, which has benefited 1.2 million industrial workers with Rs3.7 billion in grants over the past three years.
Highlighting the government’s commitment to labor rights, Chief Minister Sharif reported that 4.9 million workers have received minimum wages, while 752 FIRs have been registered for violations of labor laws.
Efforts to combat child labor have seen 70,000 children identified and removed from forced labor, with 3,644 enrolled in schools. Rehabilitation centers and dedicated help lines have also been set up to support this initiative.
The Labour Information Management System (LIMS) is being used to monitor the enforcement of minimum wages, curb child labor, and improve occupational safety and health standards. The system is also linked with Rescue 1122 for prompt coordination in case of industrial accidents.
New occupational safety and health centers are being established in Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi, and Rahim Yar Khan. Pakistan’s first Occupational Safety and Health Laboratory will be established in Lahore this year, with another in Faisalabad to be completed by the end of the year.
To encourage greater participation of women in the workforce, 577 day-care centers are being established under the Directorate General of Labour Welfare. The Chief Minister also mentioned the establishment of labor market research cells and employment facilitation centers in Lahore, Gujranwala, Multan, and Rawalpindi over the next two years.
In recognition of these efforts, Chief Minister Sharif received the UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour award, which was also congratulated by Director General Houngbo during their meeting.
The Chief Minister expressed the desire for ILO’s support in incorporating international labor standards into economic growth and supply chains, emphasizing the government’s commitment to sustainable development.
