KARACHI – World faces the toughest challenge after the COVID crisis which reminds us in a cruel way that OSH is imperative and essential at the workplace. It is time for a new value proposition and EFP needs to revive its enthusiasm to promote OSH. This was stated by “Ravindra Peiris” Senior Specialist ACTEMP, ILO while inaugurating the international OSH Conference and 15th EFP Best Practices Awards Ceremony organized by Employers’ Federation of Pakistan and International Labours Organization at Karachi.
The International Conference was attended by International Speakers Kris De Meester, First Advisor, Federation of Enterprises in Belgium, Dr. Tsuyoshi Kawakami, national speakers, Yousuf Mirza, CEO International Steels Limited, Masood Naqi, director Ragby Industries, moderator Tahir Baig Barlas, panelists Anas Hammad, Salman Zakir, Ms. Nabila, M. Faisal, Zafar Qazi, Syed Ali Ashraf Naqvi, Akhtar Quddus addressed the International Conference on ways and means to address the OSH challenges and opportunities in enterprises as well as the textile and construction sector.
Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Ingrid Christensen, ILO Director, Islamabad congratulated EFP for organizing the International OSH Conference and consistently holding best practices awards ceremony for the last 15 consecutive years. She expressed the hope that these initiatives will serve as inspiration in adding value to health and safety initiatives in terms of bringing technical organizational and practical knowledge of OSH to the enterprises.
“ILO is happy to promote technical assistance with EU funding and will continue to extend its cooperation to EFP in strengthening the enterprise capacity to embrace OSH practices particularly with the help of technological support”, Ms. Ingrid added.
Earlier, Zaki Ahmed Khan, Vice President EFP, in his welcome address thanked ILO for their continuous support to EFP in organizing the World Health and Safety Day for the last 15 consecutive years and the support provided by them to organize the first ever International OSH conference today.
He stressed upon the need of making the workplace safe and healthier so as to be able to make a positive impact in the work culture of its member organizations which has become important now more than ever before because of challenges created by the global COVID pandemic.
Zahoor Awan, Secretary General, Pakistan Workers Federation and member ILO governing body, congratulated EFP and ILO in organizing the mega event of International OSH Conference and recognizing companies for their best OSH practices through the annual best practices OSH awards. He expressed the full support and appreciation of workers for the efforts EFP was doing in making the workplace safe and healthy.
He further emphasized that making the workplace safe and healthy was the most priority requirement of enterprises particularly after the COVID crises for the productive and profitable growth of enterprises. He assured the full support of Pakistan Workers’ Federation and Workers Organization of EFP in their efforts to promote health and safety as a primary focus in enterprises.
In the concluding session, Ismail Suttar, President Employers’ Federation of Pakistan, emphasized upon the need of having awareness conferences and seminars of OSH where people from all over Pakistan can be commended on their best health and safety practices. EFP has given focused importance to the need of making the workplaces in Pakistani enterprises safe and healthy so that they make a positive impact on the work culture of their organizations.
The Conference culminated in the holding of the 15th Annual International Health and Safety Day in which organizations with their Best Practices in OSH were recognized and conferred with the 15th EFP Best Practices Award in OSH 2019. The event was also attended by Mr. Agha Farrukh, Additional Secretary of Industries and Commerce.
Overall Platinum Award, Overall Gold Award and Overall Silver Award was given to Pak Arab Refinery Limited, Engro Fertilizers Limited, Coronet Foods Private Limited, and International Steels Limited. The first and second prizes were awarded in Oil, Gas & Energy Sector, Processing & Allied Sector, Ports & Terminal Sector, Pharmaceutical Sector, Food Sector, Service Sector, Textile Sector, Automobile & Spares Sector, Agriculture & Chemical Sector, and Agriculture & Allied Sector.
The meeting was moderated by Nazar Ali, board member EFP and Ms. Sanam Laiq concluded by vote of thanks by Zaki Ahmed Khan, VP EFP.
