There is currently no regulatory oversight over the quality of service rendered by skilled manpower — a source of public concern — in an ever expanding yet chaotic market.

At one point in time, the government did consider the issue of extending occupational licensing at certain forums. However, this segment is outside its ambit.

In absence of a legal framework or research on possible implications, particularly related to skilled manpower export, the subject was deferred.

The absence of standardisation in quality of service/pricing has lead to a chaotic, expanding market where buyers and sellers operate on their own for better or for worse

Yet there is a need for regulatory occupational oversight — a proficiency and credibility check — on plumbers, hair dressers, butchers, masons, cooks or other vocational skills. Some professional associations like that of groomers offer registration but there are doubts about the purpose or the utility of such private moves.

Ordinary Pakistanis have to depend on hearsay, reputation, instinct, bargaining and luck when engaging with professionals for home, garden, car and motorcycle maintenance or their own grooming. The absence of standardisation in quality of service/pricing has lead to a chaotic, expanding market where buyers and sellers operate on their own for better or for worse.

Progress in this regard has not been made despite the availability of province-wise relevant data. The Federal Bureau of Statistics has identified 500 occupations in its manual that guides data collection exercise of the Labour force Survey.

“There are labour surveys with valuable sets of data — disaggregated workers data in surveys/documents — gathering dust in multiple back offices. It could be used to evolve policies to improve efficiency and fairness in the market if there is will”, commented a labour economist from Islamabad.

While the provincial labour ministries in Sindh and Punjab were aware of the pool of data, they said it was beyond their domain to monitor or regulate skilled self employed manpower.

Syed Sadruddin Shah Rashidi, federal minister, overseas Pakistanis and human resource development, detailed several initiatives by his ministry directed to improve the quality and standardisation of skills that have a market in GCC countries. He was not to enthusiastic about introducing a centralised occupational certification mechanism at this stage.

“Keeping in view the varied dimensions of the labour market in Pakistan and stiff competition for jobs in the Middle East and beyond, we ought to be cautious. Adding a certification requirement to prove occupational proficiency by a central regulatory body could hurt more than help the cause of those skilled Pakistani youth seeking a rewarding career overseas”, he told Dawn over phone.

“It would add another step to the long process of meeting pre-requisites’ before people can apply for jobs”, he explained. “The focus needs to be on imparting skills in demand in the local and overseas markets to improve the prospects of gainful employment for people. In time, the regulatory framework would evolve”, he said.

“We already have 750,000 skilled workers registered seeking employment overseas in 700 categories of occupations. Currently crane operators, cooks, hoteliers and drivers are in high demand in Gulf countries”, he commented.

Some experts partially endorsed his view. They were apprehensive about creating yet another bureaucratic layer in an ineffective and inefficient governance system.

“You need to be aware of the level of professionalism and fairness required for licensors to serve and not hurt public interest. Often time the absence of public representatives and over representation of established players on the board of a licensing authority kills the purpose. Instead of improving quality and systemising reward and penalties, such forums are used to restrict entry of new comers”, he said.

“In Pakistan it would mean creating of an authority or commission beyond public reach but the cost of service would increase. It might raise average practitioner’s income but, in case of a provincial licence, limit his mobility. In the end it would push attainment of several services out of reach for the poor. Will it improve quality or safety? There are doubts”, he argued against licensing.

Another expert feared that it would further tilt the market in favour of the urban population. “Licensing laws generally require applicants to meet requirements such as: academic qualification, experience, character certificates and clearance of a licensing exam. Many artisans from a rural background, well versed in their occupation, may fail to meet all requirements and will be pushed behind”, he insisted.

When contacted Saeed Ahmed Awan, secretary labour, Punjab, said the government registered shops and businesses but not these occupations. He agreed that the segment needs regulatory oversight.

“Yes we can manage occupations better with regulatory oversight. Currently we are looking at the state of occupational safety in the province”, he said.

A senior officer of the Sindh labour department said that they dealt with factory workers and labour disputes but not with monitoring or functioning in varied occupations in the province.

When reached over the phone the spokesperson of the Securities Exchange Commission of Pakistan said that the regulator only monitors companies and has nothing to do with assessing the fitness of occupation practitioners.

A former commercial diplomat and market watcher insisted that Pakistan needed to move to regulate occupations to safeguard public interest.

“For how long can we stretch the phase where people sell services for which they are not trained? In the developed world health, hygiene, security clearance and minimum professional proficiency is assessed and certified. In Pakistan the government should start an inclusive process of consultation at the provincial level to take a position on the issue of occupational certification”, he remarked.

Published in Dawn, Business & Finance weekly, March 6th, 2017