Islamabad:On International Labour Day, Islamabad became the focus of a significant development as the Centre for Labour Research (CLR) inaugurated its meticulously crafted Islamic Labour Code at a distinguished ceremony held at the Islamabad’s Serena Hotel.
This seminal framework, a collaborative endeavour by Iftikhar Ahmad and Asghar Jameel, is presented in both English and Urdu, drawing profound insights from the ethical tenets of the Holy Quran and the Prophetic Sunnah. It articulates four fundamental pillars underpinning decent work: the generation of meaningful employment, the provision of robust social protection, the safeguarding of rights in the workplace, and the fostering of constructive social dialogue.
The CLR, an independent and non-profit research institution based in Pakistan, is dedicated to advancing equitable labour law reforms within the nation. Its collaboration with the WageIndicator Foundation (Netherlands) extends to the publication of a globally recognized Labour Rights Index, which benchmarks the labour legislation of 145 countries against the established standards of the International Labour Organization (ILO).
The newly launched Islamic Labour Code is envisioned as a pivotal legislative blueprint for Muslim-majority nations aspiring to imbue their labour systems with deeply rooted Islamic values. The launch event, attended by a distinguished assembly of legal luminaries, prominent labour leaders, and esteemed government officials, commenced with the solemn recitation of the Holy Quran, followed by the resonant strains of the National Anthem. Athar Jameel, in his welcoming address, eloquently set the stage for a series of insightful presentations.
Iftikhar Ahmad, the Founder of CLR and a co-author of the Code, underscored the global significance of this framework, noting that Muslim countries collectively represent a workforce of approximately 800 million individuals. He elucidated that the Code synthesizes pertinent Qur’anic verses and Hadiths related to labour, thereby serving as both an authoritative reference and a practical legislative guide.
Asghar Jameel, the fellow co-author, provided a historical perspective on the Code’s development, recalling the extensive dialogue between the co-authors over a period of approximately fifteen years. Furthermore, he noted the Code’s importance for corporations committed to integrating Islamic labour practices and for multilateral and civil society organizations seeking to advocate for labour law reforms within Muslim countries.