The federal government has decided to ratify the Protocol to the Forced Labor Convention of 1930, in a move to strengthen its cooperation with global trading partners, especially the European Union, which prioritizes human rights.
Pakistan’s failure to ratify the Protocol could be seen as a failure to comply with human rights, especially in light of the more stringent trade conditions imposed by the European Union through its due diligence directives.
According to media reports, the Cabinet approved the ratification at a recent meeting, with officials noting that a delay in the process could harm Pakistan’s international reputation and possibly lead to sanctions or restrictions from major trading partners.
The Cabinet was informed that the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development has been mandated to engage international organizations focusing on labor and social security.
Pakistan, a member of the ILO since 1947, has ratified 36 of the 191 ILO conventions, 30 of which are currently in force.
The 2014 Protocol to the Forced Labor Convention (P-029) is one of the 11 core instruments of the ILO, in accordance with the 1998 Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.
All ILO Members must respect and promote fundamental principles, including the abolition of forced labour.
A gap assessment conducted in 2021, with technical assistance from the ILO Country Office, identified areas where national legislation on forced labor was not fully aligned with the provisions of the Protocol. The results will be shared through workshops involving government agencies, employers and workers’ organizations in 2021 and 2023.
The ongoing ILO Bridge Project, which runs from 2023 to 2025, aims to address forced labor through targeted interventions, especially in areas where the issue is more prevalent.
The Ministry of Commerce had informed in October 2022 that the ratification of P-029 would be included in the list of international agreements necessary for Pakistan’s participation in the UK Developing Countries Trade Scheme, which replaces the UK Generalized Preferences Scheme (GSP).
The ratification of the Protocol is also a key action point in the Ministry of Human Rights’ five-year National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights (2021-2026), approved by the Federal Cabinet.
Pakistan’s improved rating in the US Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report highlights progress made in addressing modern slavery and forced labor, and the ratification of P-029 is expected to boost the country’s rating.