Karachi, The Sindh government is taking significant steps to overhaul its labour laws, aiming to align them with international standards and simplify the legal framework for all stakeholders. This initiative, supported by the International Labour Organization (ILO), seeks to consolidate 21 existing labour laws into a single, comprehensive Labour Code.

According to United Nations Pakistan, the drafting of this Labour Code has been a collaborative effort with the Government of Sindh, which requested technical assistance to improve the clarity and enforceability of its labour laws. The ILO Country Director for Pakistan, Geir Tonstol, met with Sindh’s Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Friday, 31 May 2024, to discuss the progress of these reforms.

The consolidation of Sindh’s labour laws into one unified code is expected to facilitate easier compliance, enhance worker protection, and attract more foreign investment by making the legal framework more transparent. The reform is part of a broader strategy to strengthen the regulatory environment and support economic growth, with the potential to significantly impact the local and national economy.

This week, the draft Labour Code was presented to social partners and stakeholders, marking a pivotal moment in Sindh’s legislative reform efforts. The discussions, held from 27-31 May 2024, were part of the European Union-funded International Labour and Environment Standards in Small and Medium Enterprises project.

The engagement with the ILO and the ongoing reforms reflect Sindh’s commitment to upholding international labour standards and improving its global market presence, particularly in contexts like the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP+) commitments.