ISLAMABAD: Pakistan views the International Labour Organization (ILO) as a strategic partner, President Asif Ali Zardari stated during a meeting with ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo in Islamabad. The President emphasized the importance of a practical, results-oriented partnership with the ILO, underscoring the need for enhanced technical support and resources to implement initiatives effectively at the national level.

According to Radio Pakistan, President Zardari highlighted the significance of the ILO’s tripartite system and social dialogue, particularly within the framework of the Decent Work Country Programme 2023-27. He called for robust implementation in areas such as employment, social protection, labor standards, and workplace safety. Additionally, he proposed a comprehensive Pakistan Fair and Safe Labour Migration Framework, aiming to address various aspects of labor migration and sought the ILO’s assistance in fortifying labor migration corridors with emerging global destinations.

The President also lauded the ILO’s initiatives under Houngbo’s leadership, including the Global Coalition for Social Justice and the adoption of Convention No. 193 on Decent Work in the Platform Economy. He underlined these efforts as vital for Pakistan’s young workforce and burgeoning digital economy. Furthermore, President Zardari urged the ILO to support Pakistan’s ratified labor conventions with technical assistance and institutional strengthening, as the country finalizes its National Occupational Safety and Health Policy.

Houngbo acknowledged Pakistan’s enduring cooperation with the ILO and expressed the organization’s commitment to collaborating on issues of decent work, social justice, labor migration, skills development, and occupational safety and health.