KARACHI: Occupational Safety and Health is a Fundamental Right, and it is the responsibility of employers to take measures to ensure the safety of workers at the workplace said by Dr. Muhammad Yousuf Sarwar, Chairman, Employers’ Federation of Pakistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa while addressing the employers’ representatives to an Awareness Raising Workshop on Occupational Safety and Health Conventions 155 and 187. The workshop was organized by the Employers’ Federation of Pakistan (EFP) jointly with the Industrialist’ Association of Peshawar (IAP) with the support of the International Labour Organization (ILO). Syed Nazar Ali, Secretary General, EFP, and Syed Hasnain Mazher, Director, EFP Board also addressed the occasion.
Dr. Muhammad Yousuf Sarwar informed the participants that the ILO has recently included these two OSH Conventions in the existing fundamental principle and right at work (FPRW), and EFP is at the fourth front to promote compliance with OSH and other labour standards as a tool for productivity, industrial growth and socio-economic development in Pakistan. “This awareness-raising workshop was the first activity of a series of activities EFP has planned to create awareness and build the capacity of employers across the country to better understand the conventions and requirements under the conventions for creating safe and healthy workplaces.”
Addressing the workshop Malik Imran Ishaq, President, Industrialist’ Association of Peshawar said safe and protected workplaces are equally important for employers and the sustainability of organizations. There is a growing recognition of the need for OSH measures and employers in Pakistan are beginning to understand its importance yet a lack of understanding about the requirement and capacity of enterprises particularly SMEs in KP is a major impediment in promoting compliance. He thanked the EFP for arranging this important awareness-raising workshop in Peshawar in collaboration with IAP in creating awareness of OSH Conventions and building the capacity of employers on Occupational Safety and Health.
Ahmed Qazi from ILO Islamabad in his statement appreciated and congratulated the EFP and IAP on organizing an awareness-raising workshop for employers on OSH. He said safe and healthy working conditions are fundamental to decent work and with the adoption of international labour standards on safety and healthy working environment Convention 155 and 187 as fundamental conventions, the ILO member states including Pakistan are required to respect and promote these principles. This requires all stakeholders to further their efforts towards improving compliance with OSH and develop an inclusive and comprehensive OSH policy that is easy to understand and can guide the stakeholders about their role and responsibilities in reducing occupational-related hazards and risks and ensuring a safe and healthy working environment for all.
Akhter Quddus an OSH expert gave a detailed presentation on ILO OSH Convention 155 and ILO promotional framework for OSH convention 187, the key milestones leading to recognition of rights to a safe and healthy working environment as an FPRW and duties of employers and action required for risk and safety hazards at the enterprise level. Group activity was also carried out for better understanding and clarity about the conventions.
