12 May, 2025Workers’ rights are under severe attack in Pakistan as the country debates labour law reforms. Trade unions in the country have been vehemently opposing the proposed anti-worker changes to labour law and have held several joint protests across the country in this regard. During a visit to Pakistan in the first week of May, IndustriALL leadership extended solidarity and support to workers and unions for their relentless struggle to safeguard workers’ rights.
During the council meeting in Islamabad, affiliate leaders held a detailed discussion with general secretary, Atle Høie, and assistant general secretary, Kemal Özkan, on urgent labour issues. Union leaders raised concerns over the continued rise in precarious work and proposed labour law reforms that threaten to further weaken workers’ rights. While workers in the textile and garment sector have long demanded living wages and better conditions, some safeguards have been introduced through the implementation of the Accord. However, the fight for safe workplaces continue, especially in the mining sector, where protections remain inadequate.
Affiliates have been raising these issues with employers and state governments and there have been some victories such including the Supreme Court order passed last year that granted 55 contract workers at IFFCO Pakistan permanent worker status.
“IndustriALL extends full support to all the struggling workers of Pakistan. We are with you in this struggle. If we want to ensure that workers’ rights are advanced, we will have to stand together and raise our voices unitedly. Unity is our biggest strength and no one can defeat in our fight for justice as long as we stand united,”
said Atle Høie.
IndustriALL also met with government officials, raising key issues around the implementation of the Hong Kong Convention, labour law reform and mine safety. The talks reflected IndustriALL’s ongoing commitment to improving occupational health and safety across sectors. Pakistan has yet to ratify ILO Convention 176, a key instrument for improving safety in mining. IndustriALL raised this concern in a meeting with federal officials, who confirmed that steps are being taken to ratify the Convention by the end of the year.
Pakistan has recently ratified three ILO instruments: the Protocol of 2014 to the Forced Labour Convention, the Maritime Labour Convention and the Labour Statistics Convention. The government has expressed its intention to ratify three additional core conventions in the near future; Convention 155 on Occupational Safety and Health), Convention 187 on Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health and Convention 176 on Safety and Health in Mines). The ratifications are expected to be completed by early next year and represent a major victory for IndustriALL and affiliates in Pakistan, a testament to years of advocacy and organizing to push for stronger protections for workers.
“Along with other South Asian countries, Pakistan is facing numerous challenges, ranging from political, economic to social. To ensure that workers’ rights are protected and working conditions are improved, it is imperative that unions put up a strong united fight. Only then we will be able to advance workers’ struggle. We must continue to stand united in advocating for living wages, social security and safer workplaces, including the ratification of ILO C176 to ensure safe mining,”
said Kemal Özkan.