ISLAMABAD, Dec 11: The government will make law for equal remuneration for men and women in line with ILO Convention, which was ratified by the Pakistan Government in August this year.
This was stated by Federal Minister for Labour, Manpower and Overseas Pakistanis Omar Asghar Khan while speaking at a seminar on “Convention 100” concerning equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value here on Tuesday.
He said the seminar would provide input for legislation of a law protecting the rights of working women in the country. He said Pakistan had a period of one year for legislation after the ratification of ILO Convention.
He said 76 labour laws have been modified into six for the convenience of workers and their betterment. He said ratification of ILO Convention 100 and legislation in line with it would provide decent working condition and equal remuneration to the working women.
Mr Khan said this would encourage the females to come forward in job market and steadily enter into the mainstream of country‘s work force. He said protection of rights to the women would also encourage them to earn livelihood to alleviate poverty.
He said women participation in trade union activities was very low which could be estimated through female participation in the formal sector of employment which was hardly 14 per cent.
He said increasing industrialization and pressure of globalization and new technologies would mean that women should come forward to play their role in all walks of life in all economic sectors.
Mr Khan said there was need to strengthen our policies in favour of female workforce by taking measures to provide training facilities to them in multiple trade, information technologies and all other relevant fields.
The minister said it was matter of concern that women who consist of half of our population were not fully absorbed in the mainstream of economic activity.
He said that increase equality between male and female would help enhance growth, reduce poverty improve governance and uphold women and girls human rights.
Speaking at the seminar Minister for Women Development and Special Education Dr Attiya Inayatullah said that after the ratification of Convention 100, there was need to address the issues of equal remuneration for women through legislation.
She termed the ratification ILO Convention 100 a major step to provide decent and favourable condition of work environment to women. The government would create favourable environment for bringing women in mainstream of economic activity in the country.
Secretary Labour Farhat Hussain said Pakistan had ratified core ILO Convention which indicated that Pakistan was committed to improve working condition of workers and to protect their rights.