KARACHI, May 15: The federal labour ministry has convened a meeting of the business leaders on Monday to take stock of the legislation exercises done so far for the compliance of the social, health, safety and environmental standards being demanded by the buyers in Europe and USA.

The meeting has been called after the federal industries and production minister Liaquat Jatoi made it clear that he wants to take up the entire package of social compliance to the cabinet to set a direction for future legislation and administrative measures.

Another meeting - inter-ministerial meeting - is being held on Wednesday (May 19) to review the decisions of Monday meeting and prepare a full summary for the cabinet meeting.

The government needs to legislate in five areas of labour welfare to comply with the social standards set by the US and European countries for their trade partners in their quest for globalization, development and growth.

Business leaders in Karachi reveal that drafts of all these five laws plus Industrial Relations Ordinance were finalized in 2002. But the government promulgated only IRO 2002 on October 26 last year. The government, however, did not incorporate a wide range of recommendations proposed by a businessmen committee. Now the businessmen want the government to promulgate the five laws and also to amend the IRO 2002 to incorporate the suggestions of their committee.

The five laws, which are now almost finalized after having been debated and discussed at various levels between the government and the businessmen representatives are (i) Conditions of Employment (ii) Wages Ordinance (iii) Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance (iv) Human Resource Development and Control of Employment Ordinance and (v) Labour Welfare and Social Security Ordinance.

All these labour related issues were discussed in the inter- ministerial meetings and eventually in last week of August 2003 at the Textile Board meeting. The Textile Board is reported to have taken the issue afresh this month.

The government probably feels embarrassed to enforce these laws as ordinances when both thehouses - the National Assembly and the Senate - are functioning. "But neither the parliament discusses such laws nor any political party has time to debate on such issues," is a cynic remark of a business leader.

Businessmen in Pakistan consider concern of the US and European countries on labour and health standards more a protection for their domestic market rather than any love for workers.

Quite a many local textile exporting firms were put in to tight corner by their European buyers who demanded hygienic working conditions and special tools. Certain chemicals and dyes have been specified which are considered to be health hazards and hence restricted for use in the industry.

Trade organizations like All Pakistan Textile Mills Associations and other bodies are now reported to be engaging professional consultants to develop a social compliance benchmark for the exporting companies in Pakistan.