Earlier this month, on the 7th of May 2024, a workshop was organised by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) at Quetta’s Serena Hotel to present the draft mapping and needs assessment of forced labour victim support services in Balochistan. Among the guests were Sardar Mushtaq Khan Jaffar, Director General of Labour, Government of Balochistan, and Mr Muhammad Zahir, Deputy Director of the Department of Labour. The workshop primarily aimed to shed light on The Bridge Project II: "From Protocol to Practice: A Bridge to Global Action on Forced Labour." This project is undertaken in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, the Provincial Labour Department, employers and workers’ organisations, media, civil society, and the relevant UN agencies.
The project is funded by the United States Department of Labour and is scheduled from May 2023 to December 2024. Its main focus is to raise awareness about forced labour prevalent in Balochistan, Punjab, and Sindh, as well as to empower workers and employers’ organisations in combating forced labour and enhancing livelihood programs for its victims.
Key activities of the project include sensitising media representatives and journalists on reporting about forced labour and related issues, including through field visits. Additionally, it involves information-sharing and capacity building for selected local institutions and registered NGOs to combat bonded labour and promote labour rights. During the discussions, a participant raised a question about the status of refugees as labourers, who are not offered work opportunities in either the government or private sectors.
Pakistani labourers expressed concern over the increased competition for jobs and reduced wages due to the influx of refugee labourers.
Mr Zahir, Deputy Director of the Department of Labour, responded by affirming that they consider all workers as equal, regardless of sect, religion, or nationality. He also mentioned their coordination with various international agencies to provide a Management Information System (MIS) for the social security scheme.
Furthermore, human rights activist Mr Nazar addressed the participants, emphasising that unless an issue is prioritised by the state and government, it cannot be effectively resolved. He stressed the need for prioritising forced labour issues to ensure labour rights.
Naseer Ahmed Chana from the Bright Star Development Society Balochistan highlighted the lack of awareness among labourers about their rights and the absence of implementation regarding daily wages, which are set at a minimum of 32,000 rupees. Pakistani labourers expressed concern over the increased competition for jobs and reduced wages due to the influx of refugee labourers. Lala Ramzan Khan, Chairman of the Pakistan Working Federation KP, warned about the rise in crime rates in the absence of employment opportunities.
The program concluded with remarks from DG Department of Labour, Mr Sardar Mushtaq Khan Jaffer, who emphasised that individual dignity in work is pivotal for national progress.