Dr Gohar Ejaz, Minister of Commerce, Production & Industry, stated that it is imperative that Pakistani exporters, especially textile related, must comply with all ILO International Labor Standards, including Occupational Safety and Health Standards (OSH), to manifest their progressive march towards achieving the objectives of the huge increase in exports. He was talking to a delegation of the Employers Federation of Pakistan (EFP) consisting of President Malik Tahir Javaid, Former President Majyd Aziz, and Member of the Board of Directors Mian Akram Farid in his office in Islamabad.

The commerce minister added that enlightened action and the attitude of exporters would enhance Pakistan’s case in the EU for the next grant of GSP Plus. He assured that the government is fully committed to providing a favourable ecosystem to exporters and advised EFP to motivate members to comply with all conditionalities. He appreciated that EFP has recognised and awarded OSH-compliant enterprises for the last sixteen years.

Malik Tahir Javaid informed that EFP is leading the private sector in employment, labour legislation, social protection, SDGs, skills development, decent work initiatives, and elimination of child labour. He also said that the Federal and Provincial governments should ensure that EFP was nominated on all relevant bodies and committees. On behalf of EFP, he invited the Minister to be the Chief Guest at the EFP-OSHE Award Distribution Ceremony 2023 on 25th September in Karachi.

Majyd Aziz informed the Minister that as President of Global Compact Network Pakistan (GCNP), he is leading the campaign to sensitise employers to comply with the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact related to Human Rights, Labor, Environment and Good Governance. He added that the government must work with employer organisations to implement pragmatic policies and institutional frameworks to promote safety culture and full compliance of all standards.

Mian Akram Farid also advised the Minister to begin visiting Chambers in all major cities and said that as Leader of the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry, he would be honoured if he would visit ICCI at the first opportunity.