May 30, 2003	Friday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 27,1424

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ISLAMABAD, May 29: The International Labour Organization (ILO) has said all the member states should intensify their efforts to eliminate discrimination at work, terming it indispensable for poverty reduction and sustainable development.

Millions of people are denied jobs, simply because of their sex, religion, creed, and colour of skin, irrespective of their capabilities or the requirements of the jobs.

These observations were made in a book entitled ‘Time for equality at work’ launched by the ILO here on Thursday.

Elaborating the main features of the book, Dr Aliya Khan, Assistant Professor at the Quaid-i-Azam University, said elimination of discrimination at work was essential if the values of human dignity, social justice and cohesion were to go beyond the formal proclamations.

“The book gives an update of the various policies and practical responses with the aim of moralizing gender support for the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation,” she said.

Workers who enjoy equal treatment and opportunities improve the efficient use of human resources and diverse talents, Prof Atiya said.

The report also reviewed some of the milestones since the Second World War in the recognition of discrimination and commitment to its elimination.

Adviser to the prime minister Nilofar Bakhtiar said the host of our present miseries and agonies were due to the prevalence of gender discrimination or inequality on the basis of rich and poor and vast difference in social status of human being.