Islamabad:President Asif Ali Zardari has expressed that Pakistan considers the International Labour Organization (ILO) as a strategic partner in enhancing the country's labour sector.

According to Radio Pakistan, President Zardari conveyed this during a meeting with ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo in Islamabad. The President underscored the importance of a practical and results-oriented collaboration, calling for stronger technical support and resources for implementation at the national level.

President Zardari emphasized the significance of the ILO's tripartite system and social dialogue, highlighting the Decent Work Country Programme 2023-27 as crucial. He stressed the need for robust implementation in areas such as employment, social protection, labour standards, and workplace safety.

The President advocated for a comprehensive Pakistan Fair and Safe Labour Migration Framework, addressing aspects like recruitment, skills certification, migration costs, and reintegration. He proposed an ILO-Pakistan initiative, "From Skills to Global Jobs," to align vocational training with international labour demands, facilitating employment opportunities for Pakistani workers.

He also sought ILO's assistance in establishing and enhancing labour-migration corridors with regions such as the Gulf, Europe, and East Asia, and in strengthening Pakistan's labour-market information system, following the country's ratification of ILO Convention No. 160 on Labour Statistics.

Acknowledging the ILO's initiatives under Houngbo's leadership, President Zardari praised efforts like the Global Coalition for Social Justice and the adoption of Convention No. 193 on Decent Work in the Platform Economy, which are pertinent to Pakistan's workforce and digital economy. He also noted Pakistan's recent ratification of key ILO instruments, inviting support for their implementation through technical assistance and institutional strengthening.

The President mentioned the finalization of a National Occupational Safety and Health Policy with ILO support and welcomed reforms within the ILO aimed at enhancing its effectiveness while maintaining core mandates and fairness.

Gilbert F. Houngbo appreciated Pakistan's cooperation with the ILO and reaffirmed the organization's commitment to working with Pakistan on issues such as decent work, social justice, labour migration, skills development, and occupational safety and health.