EFP backs MNE declaration

KARACHI: Provincial labour secretary on Tuesday urged employers and workers to engage in constructive dialogue to promote responsible business practices and protect workers' rights, as the country seeks to attract more foreign investment.

Shariq Ahmed, secretary of the Labour and Human Resource Department of Sindh said such dialogue was essential for implementing the principles of the Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy (MNE Declaration), a non-binding guideline adopted by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in 1977.

"The MNE Declaration provides a framework for ensuring the social protection of workers and fostering enterprise sustainability in the globally connected business environment," Ahmed said at a tripartite meeting organized by the Employers' Federation of Pakistan (EFP) with the support of the ILO.

He said the government was taking measures to improve the inspection system and encourage businesses to comply with international standards and local legislation, as the global market demands the demonstration of best business practices and corporate social responsibility.

The meeting was attended by representatives of employers, workers, government and the ILO, who discussed the role of local and multinational enterprises in the socio-economic development and realization of decent work in Pakistan.

Majyd Aziz, former president of EFP, said the MNE Declaration could serve as a guideline for

ensuring that all enterprises adhere to the ILO International Labour Standards and the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact, a voluntary initiative for businesses to align their operations with universal values.

Aziz said the formation of the Special Industrial Facilitation Council, a body to facilitate foreign direct investment, had created optimism that more multinational companies would invest in Pakistan and enhance their activities.

He added that EFP, as the focal point of the MNE Declaration in Pakistan, had been promoting and projecting the declaration in various cities of the country.