Lahore, The International Labour Organization (ILO), with funding from fashion giant INDITEX, has launched the second phase of its programme aimed at promoting workers’ rights in Pakistan’s cotton sector.

According to United Nation Pakistan, this phase builds upon the groundwork laid between 2017 and 2023 and was inaugurated today in Lahore. The programme is designed to empower cotton-growing communities in Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan provinces, with a focus on forming associations for farmers and trade unions, addressing gender inequalities, and advocating for workers’ rights.

The launch event was attended by government representatives, employers’ and workers’ organizations, and various stakeholders within the cotton industry. ILO’s Country Director for Pakistan, Geir Tonstol, addressed the pressing issues in these communities, including child labor and the relegation of women to lower-paying roles. He underscored the ILO’s commitment to advocating for decent work, freedom of association, collective bargaining, and safe working environments in cotton production.

Tonstol also highlighted the project’s goals to reduce inequality, distribute wealth more evenly, and contribute to sustainable economic growth by establishing institutional mechanisms to address vulnerabilities through social dialogue and the scaling up of good practices.

The partnership between ILO and INDITEX, initiated in 2017, aims to respect labor rights and promote social dialogue, worker well-being, and empowerment in the cotton supply chain across China, India, Mali, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, and at the global level.