SAPM, ILO team discuss job opportunities for Pak migrants

ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development (SAPM on OP&HRD), Jawad Sohrab Malik met with ILO delegation led by Geir Tonstol, Country Director ILO for Pakistan, to discuss various strategies for enhancing overseas employment for Pakistani migrant workers.

The delegation of ILO included Dino Corell (Migration Specialist), Gabriel Bordado (Skills Specialist), Amish Karki (Programme Manager for GOALS Project), Saghir Bukhari (Senior Programme Officer ILO, Islamabad) and Shahzad Ahmed (Project Officer- GOALS). The discussion centered around devising a strategy to ensure fair recruitment and secure migration, while upholding the principles of inclusive and equitable migration for dignified and decent employment.

The SAPM expressed the desire for the ILO to lead the development of a national roadmap. “This roadmap will set forth practical measures, ranging from short to long term, aimed at enhancing people’s capacities through skills development, “ he said.

Furthermore, he said it should establish a policy framework that advocates for international accreditation, raises awareness among prospective migrant workers, and encourages private sector engagement in recognizing prior learning and integrating labor provisions into bilateral trade agreements. ILO delegation appraised SAPM that ILO is actively collaborating with government of Pakistan, under the leadership of Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, in ensuring safe migration practices, especially for blue-collar workers who are frequently vulnerable to exploitative working environment. In this regard, together with Bureau of Emigration and Protectorate offices, the ILO provides predeparture support and awareness initiatives to both workers and public service providers for effective governance, aiming to enhance effective governance. SAPM and ILO delegation agreed upon continuous support to each other, in ensuring provision and securing of decent employment opportunities, in countries of destination, to migrant work force of Pakistan.