ISLAMABAD, June 28: The Senate Standing Committee on Labour, Mapower and Overseas Pakistanis has observed that Overseas Employment Corporation (OEC) should be revamped with a view to promoting employment for Pakistanis in foreign countries
and handling government-to-government manpower export more effectively.
The committee met in the Parliament House on Monday under the chairmanship of Senator Mir Mohammad Naseer Mengal. It was given a briefing on the organizational setup, role and functions of the Ministry of Labour, Manpower and Overseas Pakistanis, and its attached departments by the ministry secretary, Humayun Farshori.
The committee was informed that OEC had so far sent 125,350 people under major categories to the Middle East and other countries. It was informed that the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment, an attached department of the labour ministry, not only controlled and regulated emigration issues, but also protected the rights and interests of the emigrants.
The secretary told the committee that the bureau, since its inception in 1971, had sent 3,370,000 Pakistanis for employment abroad, and that a record 214,039 were sent abroad during 2003.
The official said an MoU was signed between the governments of Pakistan and Malaysia in October 2003. The MoU, actuated in March this year, is likely to facilitate export of unskilled and semi-skilled workforce to Malaysia.
Regarding Implementation Tribunal for Newspaper Employees, the committee was told that the tribunal disposed of 859 cases during 2001-2003. It was also given a briefing on the establishment, functions and performance of the Workers Welfare Fund.
The committee was informed that the fund had so far completed 80 housing schemes, whereas work on 25 was in progress. In the education and health sectors, 63 schools and 31 health centres had been completed, and that so far, 468,545 people had benefited from the fund.
The committee was also given an overview of other organizations like the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation, the Employees Old Age Benefit Institution, the Pakistan Manpower Institute, the Directorate of Workers Education, the National Industrial Relations Commission, the National Institute of Labour Administrative and Training, the Central Inspectorate of Mines, the National Talent Pool and Directorate of Dock Workers Safety.
The committee chairman agreed with the members' suggestion to have a detailed discussion after the formation of the federal cabinet in July. The meeting was also attended by senators Tahir Iqbal, Prof Mohammad Saeed Siddiqui, Mohammad Sarwar Khan Kakar, Fauzia Fakharuz Zaman, Nighat Mirza, Syed Sajjad Hussain, Mohammad Enver Baig, Maulana Gul Naseer Khan, Sahibzada Khalid Jan and Raza Mohammad Raza. Senior officers of the labour ministry and its attached department were also present.
