HYDERABAD, Feb 18: A group of non-governmental organizations has decided to increase and improve coordination among them to effectively tackle the issue of bonded labour in the agriculture sector.

The decision was taken at a meeting held recently here at the office of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and convened by the Bhandar Hari Sangat, an organization working for the resolution of agricultural issues with special attention to abolition of bonded labour.

Ali Nawaz Nizamani, project manager of the National Rural Support Programme, an NGO working on rehabilitation of bonded labourers among other issues, said at the meeting that there was a need for coordination among organizations working for abolition of bonded labour.

Brother Philip Hira, the head of the National Commission for Justice and Peace, supported the idea that the NGOs should form a network to coordinate their activities. President of the Green Rural Development Organization, Ghulam Hussain Malookani also supported the proposal.

Vice-chairperson of the Sindh chapter of the HRCP Ali Hassan said that the issue of bonded labour needed a collective approach, which was possible through coordination among the NGOs.

Sharaft Ali, project manager of the administration and network departments of the Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research, said that coalition building in Pakistan was a complex issue and emphasized that the NGOs should hold more meetings.

International Labour Organization's adviser in Pakistan on bonded labour, Dr Tauqir Shah said that the government was bound to implement different international charters and conventions of human rights under a trade pact, designed on the basis of general system of preferences, between Pakistan and the European Union.

He said that the European Union would deny Pakistani commodities access to European countries if the government did not implement relevant laws and added that it was time for civil society to build pressure on the government institutions for implementation of the laws.

Eileen Kingston, programme officer of Trocaire, an Ireland-based donor agency, said that civil society was very strong in European countries and governments of those countries could not violate rights of their citizens. He urged the participants of the meeting to unite to strengthen civil society.

Ramzan Memon, project coordinator of the Bhandar Hari Sangat, said that collaboration among civil society members, especially for lobbying, could prove to be an effective tool in eradicating bonded labour.

Assistant coordinator of the Society for Protection of Rights of Child, Iqbal Detho, said that there was a need for raising awareness about the procedures and functions of the district vigilance committees for abolition of bonded labour.