LAHORE, Sept 9: The International Labour Organization has presented the draft of an employment promotion programme to the Pakistan government.

This was stated by Islamabad-based ILO director Johannes Lokollo at a seminar organized by All-Pakistan Federation of Trade Unions here on Monday.

The seminar was attended by trade unionists and workers belonging to various industrial and commercial units.

Mr Lokollo said implementation of the 10-year programme suggested by the ILO could help solve the problem of unemployment in Pakistan.

He stressed the need for recognizing and honouring the basic rights of workers specially those pertaining to freedom of association and collective bargaining.

Workers, he said, needed to be accorded social protection for enhancing their productivity.

The seminar was attended among others by Punjab labour secretary Iqbal Ahmad, ILO’s employment strategy department director Raashed Amjad, central labour advisor to government Dr Aalia Khan and APFTU secretary-general Khurshid Ahmad.

The speakers termed as alarming the problem of unemployment and noted that the rate of joblessness among youth and women was increasing in the country.

It was stated at the seminar that the rate of unemployment in cities was around 31 per cent while more than 48 per cent of the labour force was under-employed in Pakistan. Similarly, the number of people living below the poverty line was also described as rising.

The speakers called for allocation of more resources for education and training and improving the quality of lives of landless peasants.

Dr Aalia Khan said that draft of a progressive labour policy had been sent to the cabinet. Work on simplification of labour laws and bringing them in conformity with ILO conventions was in final stages, she added.

Punjab labour secretary Iqbal Ahmad Khan said the government would give due consideration to the recommendations made at the seminar.

APFTU leaders Khurshid Ahmad, Osama Tariq and Kokab Iqbal also spoke on the occasion and highlighted the problems being faced by workers. They urged the government to adopt a realistic approach to workers’ problem.