KARACHI: Speakers at a press conference on Friday welcomed the extension of GSP-Plus facility to Pakistan for two years but urged the government to take serious measures to implement recommendations provided by the European Union (EU) for implementation of 27 international conventions required to be complaint under the scheme. The press conference marked the launch of Second Media Bulletin on Generalised System of Preference (GSP)-Plus, prepared by the Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (PILER) at Karachi Press Club. Karamat Ali of PILER said, “The government should realize the fact that we are not compliant with most of the international conventions and this extension of GSP-Plus facility has provided us an opportunity to make serious efforts for improvement of human rights and labour rights situation. “Pakistan has already ratified 27 international conventions regarding human rights, labour rights, environmental protection and good governance, but no serious measure has been taken to implement those conventions. It is our duty to make laws and institutions to implement these conventions.” He added, “In its review report, the EU has acknowledged some positive developments in Pakistan in making of laws, but it has also pointed out lack of implementation of such laws.” Karamat Ali quoted the European Union’s second report on two-year review of Pakistan, presented in the EU Parliament on January 19, 2018, and said that the EU has indicated many areas in which we have lacked in implementation of relevant laws. “The EU has expressed serious concerns in the review report over deteriorating situation of compliance of human rights and International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions. Increased incidents of enforced disappearance, attacks on minorities, misuse of blasphemy laws, curbs on free use of right to association and freedom of expression, lack of social security and occupation health and safety and fair trial in judicial system are the major areas in which we need to make improvements.” Ali mentioned that in the concluding section, the EU report has pointed out that the government has not taken effective actions to address the widespread use of torture. “The application of death penalty and executions remain a grave concern, while a review of the crimes carrying death penalty would be a welcome first step in the right direction. Some actions have been taken regarding freedom of religion or belief, for example against hate speech, the blasphemy laws and related campaigns in social media, discrimination against religious and ethnic minorities continues to be a concern.” Regarding labour laws, Karamat Ali said that Sindh had taken some serious measures as a large number of labour laws were passed by the provincial assembly. “For the first time, Sindh government organized a tripartite labour conference, which is mandatory under ILO conventions. The provincial government of Sindh has recently released the first ever Labour Policy after devolution of powers under 18th Amendment in the Constitution,” he noted. “We demand all other provinces to hold tripartite labour conferences and announce labour policies,” he added. Karamat Ali urged industrialists to cooperate with labour and urged them to not create hindrances in the working of trade unions. Speaking on the occasion, Habibuddin Junaidi of the Sindh Labour Solidarity Committee said that Sindh government had constituted a Labour Standing Committee after the Sindh Tripartite Labour Conference with equal representation from industries and labour. The government’s representation is only 20 percent. Junaidi said the Standing Committee in its first meeting has expressed serious concern on lower rate under the Minimum Wage Law. “How can a family survive with a meager amount of Rs.15,000 per month fixed for unskilled workers,” he asked. In many industries, this minimum wage is also not implemented, he added. Seema Maheshwari of the Sindh Human Rights Defenders Network said enforced disappearances and the issue of missing persons was a major area of concern for rights defenders. “The defenders also must be protected. The government must ensure the right to fair trial and due process of law. In case there are any cases against anybody. People can be arrested and tried in a court of law. Any unconstitutional and illegal method to detain citizens is a cause of concern.” She demanded an end of impunity to state officials involved in enforced disappearances. Other speakers were Mahnaz Rahman of Aurat Foundation; Saeed Balochi of the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum; and Zahid Farooque of the Urban Resource Centre. Published in Daily Times, March 10th 2018.