SIALKOT: The speakers, experts and stakeholders have stressed upon the need of promotion of socially responsible labour practices for creating more and better jobs in Sialkot’s sports goods industry, besides, making all out sincere efforts to motivate the multinational enterprises (MNEs) and international brands for ensuring their maximum investment in Sialkot-Pakistan’s sports goods industry as well.
The major stakeholders International Labour Organization (ILO), Employers’ Federation of Pakistan (EFP) and Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) pledged their full cooperation, technical and financial support and guidance for flourishing the Sialkot’s sports goods industry as well.
They stated this while addressing the participants of a day-long consultation workshop on the exploratory study “More and Better Jobs through Socially responsible Labour Practices in the Sports Goods Industry of Sialkot” held at the SCCI here today under the auspices of International Labour Organization (ILO) in active collaboration with Employers’ Federation of Pakistan (EFP) here today.
SCCI President Maj (Rtd) Mansur Ahmed presided over this mega event. While, Senior Specialist Yukiko Arai, ILO Pakistan Director Ingrid Christensen, Provincial Secretary Labour Abdul Rasheed Solangi, EFP President Khawaja Muhammad Nouman, EFP General Secretary Zahoor Awan, ILO Senior Programme Officer Syed Saghir Bukhari, Vice President Zaki Ahmed Khan, Secretary Fasihul Karim Siddiqi, Sialkot International Airport Limited (SIAL) Chairman Malik Muhammad Ashraf, CSDO President Dr. Nouman Idrees Butt, Project Manager Ejaz Ahmed and Sialkot based leading exporters attended this workshop.
The ILO officials told the participants that the Government of Japan was already funding this project for the promotion of good socially responsible labour in Sialkot’s sports goods industry under the supervision of ILO, in this regard.
On this occasion, Director Ingrid Christensen while delivering her speech, said that International Labour Organization (ILO) had successfully launched the exploratory study on “More and Better Jobs thorough Socially Responsible Labour Practices in the Sports Goods Industry in Sialkot” with the idea that such a study would facilitate to extend the scope of the project to other vibrant sectors of the industry not only in Sialkot but also in other parts of Pakistan as well.
Director Ingrid Christensen said “We are very happy to tell that ILO’s this exploratory study is now almost completed and has succeeded in mapping out the employment and labour situation in Sialkot-Pakistan, besides, identifying decent work deficits and good practices to provide an evidence based to achieve the objectives of this grand project”.
Ingrid Christensen said that the purpose of today’s this consultation workshop with the tripartite stakeholders was to validate the key findings of the study and draw an action plan for the way forward addressing the identified decent work deficits which could help to boost the competitiveness of the Sialkot’s sports goods industry.
While giving her detailed presentation, Yukiko Arai sensitized the Sialkot business community about the tripartite deceleration on the principals concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy.
She said that ILO had started a multi-phased project, funded by the Government of Japan, in Sialkot’s sports goods industry in 2015 for the promotion of good corporate social response practices to create maximum jobs in this industry.
She also sensitized the business enterprises in Pakistan on the essentials of MNE declaration focusing on how the multinational enterprises could be inspired to go beyond compliance in promoting a socially responsibly business agenda in Pakistan.
Addressing the participants, EFP President Khawaja Muhammad Nouman said that ILO, EFP and SCCI were striving to generate more and better jobs in Sialkot’s sports goods industry through the promotion of socially responsible labour practices amongst multinational enterprises (MNEs) and their suppliers as well.
While, presiding over this mega event, SCCI Mansur Ahmed appreciated efforts of Employers’ Federation of Pakistan (EFP), International Labour Organization(ILO) and all other stakeholders for holding this Consultation Workshop at Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) here today.
SCCI President added that in today’s world, buyers are much concerned and conscious to buy their products from socially compliant companies. The companies and countries which do not accept new demands and trends are left behind. For further growth of Sialkot’s sports goods industry, economy and country, we have to accept change and adopt more proactive and visionary approach to fulfill social compliances.
He revealed that export business in Pakistan is currently passing through difficult times but instead of complaining. He stressed the need to revisit our approach towards doing business and strengthen ourselves from within by connecting ourselves to community and society to which we belong.
“Being able to do so, we will also strengthen our ability to take full advantage of tremendous business opportunities offered by globalization. We need to reach out to the business world showing our capabilities and potential of connecting ourselves with economic, social and moral values maintained and promoted by national and international social standards”, the SCCI President narrated.
He Mansur Ahmed said that the city of Sialkot is proud that it is one of the major export cities of Pakistan and earner of good foreign exchange due to export of its products worldwide. The Sialkot exporters have demonstrated highest degree of social responsibility by achieving self-sufficiency in our infrastructure facilities through our own collective resources.
He mentioned that the Sialkot exporters have done a lot to adhere to their social responsibilities in sports goods industry here.
The trendy Sialkot exporters having done everything in social compliance and business promotion on good business practices is committed to continue serving the people and the country in continuing to its social obligations and global commitments.
Later, in a joint declaration by ILO, EFP and SCCI, all stakeholders pledged to play their pivotal active role to motivate maximum multinational brands to source their quality products from Sialkot-Pakistan.
The joint declaration further revealed that the good corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices in Sialkot industries need to be highlighted at international level to attract attention of the Brands and buyers. In order to further promote Socially Responsible Labour Practices in the Sialkot Industries, a comprehensive training program might be launched for the young industrialists. The Multinational Brands and their suppliers should cooperate with each-other and make strategies to promote decent employment in sports goods industry of Sialkot as well.
In Sialkot, the International Labour Organization (ILO), today, organized a day-long consultation workshop on the exploratory study “More & Better Jobs through Socially Responsible Labour Practices in Sports Goods Industry of Sialkot-Pakistan” at the auditorium of Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) here today in active collaboration with Employers’ Federation of Pakistan (EFP).
