Karachi, In a significant development for skilled labor, the International Labour Organization (ILO), in partnership with the Employers’ Federation of Pakistan (EFP) and the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resources Development (MOP&HRD), awarded 150 National Skills Passports to aspiring migrant workers. This initiative marks a crucial effort to enhance employability in both domestic and international labor markets.

According to International Labour Organization, the National Skills Passport (NSP) program, supported by the Joint UN Programme “Governance of Labour Migration in South and Southeast Asia” (GOALS) and funded by the Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC), aims to recognize the skills of workers in trades such as plumbing, electrician, and cooking through a comprehensive assessment process. The distribution of these passports is a stride towards facilitating fairer and safer labor migration, providing transparency and recognition of skills and competencies.

The event, attended by around 300 senior representatives from various sectors, was graced by Mohammad Younus Dagha, Minister for Revenue, Industries and Commerce, Government of Sindh. Dagha emphasized the importance of the NSP initiative and its expansion to other provinces, highlighting its role in enhancing the employability of migrant workers. Chihoko Asada-Miyakawa, Assistant Director General and Regional Director for ILO Asia and Pacific, commented on the NSP’s potential to contribute to safer labor migration, facilitating skills upskilling and sustainable reintegration of migrant workers.

Asada-Miyakawa also advocated for the broad rollout of the National Skills Passport across Pakistan to certify the skills and qualifications of all workers. Malik Tahir Javaid, President of the Employers’ Federation of Pakistan, expressed his gratitude to the awardees for successfully completing the rigorous assessment process and to the Steering Committee NSP for guiding the implementation of the NSP Pilot in Sindh.

This initiative is a significant step in empowering individuals to meet the evolving demands of the labor market, promoting skill recognition, and enhancing the prospects of migrant workers.