ISLAMABAD: A consultative workshop in Quetta, supported by the International Labor Organization (ILO), has ended with a focus on ratifying the ILO Safety and Health in Mines Convention in Pakistan. This initiative seeks to protect the rights and well-being of Pakistan’s approximately 300,000 mine workers.
The event, jointly organized by the All-Pakistan Labor Foundation (APLF) and the Pakistan Central Mines Labor Federation (PCLMF), attended representatives from government departments, workers’ and employers’ organizations to explore avenues for enhancing occupational safety and health in mines.
During the consultation, participants collectively committed to intensify efforts for the ratification of ILO Convention No. 176, a crucial step towards ensuring workplace safety and extending social security coverage to Pakistan’s mine workers. It’s worth noting that while 34 countries have ratified Convention 176 since its inception in 1995, Pakistan has not yet done so.
Geir Tonstol, the Country Director of ILO in Pakistan, emphasized the significance of ratifying Convention 176, particularly in a sector prone to accidents and injuries. He underscored the role this convention plays in addressing the challenges of occupational safety and health within Pakistan’s mining industry. Tonstol also pointed out that a substantial portion of workers in Pakistan’s mining sector, especially casual laborers, lack access to social protection because they are not officially recognized as mine employees.
Safety of Mine Laborers
Pakistan’s mining industry employs approximately 300,000 workers and significantly contributes to the country’s GDP. However, it also experiences annual reports of accidents and injuries. Many workers at mining sites lack appropriate skills and training for their assigned tasks and are often unaware of potential hazards.
Every year, there are reports of accidents and injuries. In Pakistan, mining site employees frequently lack the necessary training, equipment, and skills to complete the tasks assigned to them, and they are not aware of any potential dangers. In June 2022, the International Labor Conference made a historic move by incorporating “a safe and healthy working environment” into the ILO’s framework of fundamental principles and rights at work.
