LAHORE: International Labour Organization (ILO) Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo, leading a delegation, met Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Thursday to discuss labour rights, worker welfare and the implementation of labour laws across the province.
Maryam Nawaz welcomed the ILO delegation and briefed its members on various initiatives undertaken by the Punjab government to improve the living and working conditions of industrial labourers.
The discussions covered a wide range of issues, including the implementation of labour laws, minimum wages, ration cards, social security, workers’ housing, labour colonies and measures aimed at protecting workers’ rights.
Houngbo praised the provincial government’s initiatives, particularly the provision of ration cards to workers and the allocation of apartments to industrial labourers. He also congratulated Maryam Nawaz on receiving the UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour Award and paid tribute to her efforts for public welfare.
The chief minister said the Punjab Labour Code 2026 was aimed at strengthening workers’ rights through better enforcement of labour laws, formal registration of workers and measures to increase the minimum wage.
She said the provincial government was also taking steps to eradicate child labour by establishing dedicated helplines and rehabilitation centres.
According to Maryam, more than 70,000 cases of forced child labour have been identified in Punjab, while government interventions have helped send 3,644 children back to school.
She said minimum wage compliance had been ensured for 4.9 million workers during the last three years, while 752 FIRs were registered against employers who violated wage regulations.
On occupational safety, the chief minister said 42,858 inspections had been carried out to assess compliance with workplace health and safety laws, resulting in the issuance of 22,547 advisory notices.
She added that around 1.2 million industrial workers had benefited from the Maryam Nawaz Ration Card, with assistance worth Rs3.7 billion provided to date.
Maryam said the Labour Information Management System (LIMS) was being used to monitor minimum wage compliance, combat child labour and strengthen occupational safety and health standards.
The system, she added, has also enabled prompt coordination between labour inspectors and Rescue 1122 in cases of industrial accidents.
The Labour Department’s helpline 1314 is operating round the clock to address workers’ complaints and safety concerns, she said.
The chief minister said occupational health and safety centres were being established in Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi and Rahim Yar Khan.
She announced that Pakistan’s first Occupational Safety and Health laboratory would be established in Lahore this year, while the Faisalabad facility was expected to be completed by year-end.
To encourage greater participation of women in factories and offices, 577 day-care centres are also being established under the Directorate General of Labour Welfare, she said.
Maryam further said labour market research cells and employment facilitation centres would be established in Lahore, Gujranwala, Multan and Rawalpindi over the next two years.
She said the Punjab government was committed to helping employers comply with labour regulations and sought ILO support in aligning provincial policies and supply chains with international labour standards.
The ILO director-general, meanwhile, appreciated the substantial increase in workers’ welfare grants and acknowledged the provincial government’s efforts to improve labour welfare.
