KARACHI – The Employers’ Federation of Pakistan (EFP) signed MOUs with All Pakistan Bed-sheets and Upholstery Manufacturers Association (APBUMA) and Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) to implement FPRW from fiber to fabric.
“Social Compliance particularly issues related to Child Labor must be seriously addressed in the cotton growing sector from fiber to fabrics. This is all the more necessary now since the GSP Plus facilities have been extended by the EU till 2023 and it is important for the cotton industry to embrace international labor standards and related national legislation for availing globally expending market opportunities”,
stated by Khawaja Muhammad Younus, Chairman All Pakistan Bed-sheets and Upholstery Manufacturers Association (APBUMA) while addressing the closing session of the training workshop on FPRW.
The training workshop was organized by the Employers’ Federation of Pakistan under an EU funded project in collaboration with the International Labor Organization at Multan.
The newly elected Chairman of Pakistan Cotton Ginners Associations (PCGA), Sohail Mehmood congratulated Employers’ Federation of Pakistan for connecting with the lower tiers of the Cotton Supply Value chain which sector was represented by his association.
Chairman PCGA expressed the hope that the awareness raising campaign on the need for improvement of Health and Safety, working conditions and implementation of FPRWs will positively contribute in improving the landlords-farmer’s relationship for better productivity and transformation in the agricultural sector.
He emphasized on the need for expanding the labor laws to the agricultural sector which will go a long way in improving mutual trust and standards of productivity and quality in the cotton growing sector.
Earlier, Fasihul Karim Siddiqui, Senior Advisor EFP, informed about the EFP’s initiatives in the area and said that 20 training workshops to promote Fundamental Principles and Right at Work ?(FPRW) in the cotton growing community particularly the lowered tiers of the Cotton Supply Value Chain have been organized at various locations in Sindh and Punjab in the months of August and September 2021 reaching out to around 500 agricultural employers, landlords, progressive farmers and relevant stakeholders.
Employers’ Federation of Pakistan also signed MOUs at this occasion with APBUMA and PCGA reflecting the commitment of strong partnership among the three organizations for promoting the interest of the cotton growing community and helping the industry to combat issues and challenges hindering their growth.
The partnership will collectively work to promote social compliance, address issues of Child Labor and Bound Labor in the Textile and Apparel sectors from Fabric to Fiber, so that the cotton products may get their due place in the growingly competitive international market.
The training workshop in Multan, conducted by Sohail was attended by around 40 attendees drawn from employers, landlords and growers in the lower tier of the cotton supply chain and representatives from academia, workers, government, and other stakeholders.
Syed Muhammad Asim Shah, former president APBUMA presented vote of thanks while Khawaja Ghalib Haider Qureshi, VP Fazil Shah, Khawaja Muhammad Farooq, and Rao Dilshad Ali, Secretary General APBUMA also addressed the gathering. Ahsan and Sadaruddin Gilanie of NPO at Multan and Muhammad Akram, Ghulam Mustafa Tabassum and Ms. Nuzhat Jahan facilitated in organizing and conducting the event.
