April 27, 2006	Thursday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 28, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, April 26: Legal aid service units (LASUs) have been set up for the bonded labourers at district level, participants of a workshop were informed. A workshop on capacity-building for establishment of legal aid services for bonded labourers was organized recently by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and Manpower and the labour departments of Punjab and NWFP.

The one-day workshop was attended by representatives of ministry, representatives of ILO Geneva and Islamabad offices, representatives of provincial departments of Punjab and NWFP and district labour officers from the two provinces. The main objective of the workshop was to inform and educate the leadership and key staff of provincial governments about the issues related to provision of legal aid services to bonded labourers.

The representatives of the provincial governments briefed the participants of the workshop about the setting up and functioning of Legal Aid Service Units (LASUs) at the district level.

These units have been set up under the bonded labour fund. The staff has been recruited for the centres while offices have been set up. At the same time a toll free helpline has been established so that the complainants can have easy and rapid access to legal services.

Monitoring and oversight committees have also been established. Furthermore, capacity building workshops were being held to sensitize the district government functionaries to their role in strengthening LASUs. The presenters also highlighted the role of district vigilance committees.

The experts of the workshop briefed the participants of the workshop about the relevant national and international laws and the current issues related to bonded labour. They were briefed about the international labour standards and the Pakistan’s international obligations under the UN human rights regime and the conventions 29 and 105 of the ILO.

The speakers at the seminar discussed practical issues and challenges being faced in the provision of legal aid services to bonded labourers.