LAHORE: MRC Pakistan, in collaboration with POEPA Punjab, hosted a capacity-building workshop on ethical recruitment and migrant worker protection, says a press release.
The initiative aimed to enhance the capacity of OEPs by equipping them with soft skills and knowledge to ensure fair recruitment practices, strengthen adherence to labor laws and support migrant workers in accessing their rights and protections.
The workshop brought together various Lahore-based OEPs along with experts from government institutions, including the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), and the Community Welfare Attaché (CWA) Jeddah, KSA. Discussions focused on ethical recruitment, legal frameworks governing labour migration, strategies to combat worker exploitation, and the establishment of monitoring and grievance mechanisms to safeguard migrant workers. Additionally, a session on Soft Skill Training Module was conducted by the MRC team to train OEPs on how to train outgoing migrants in such as Effective Communication, Cultural Adaptability, Emotional Intelligence, Teamwork, and Leadership Skills.
Syed Zain Ul Abideen, Assistant Director FIA Lahore, emphasised the importance of preventing human trafficking and addressing worker exploitation. He stated, “Preventing labor exploitation requires a multi-faceted approach, including stringent law enforcement, awareness campaigns, and collaboration with recruitment agencies. By equipping OEPs with the knowledge to recognise and prevent fraudulent recruitment practices, we strengthen our collective efforts against human trafficking. This workshop is a crucial step in empowering OEPs to play a proactive role in ensuring ethical labour migration”.
Akif Iqbal, CWA Jeddah, underscored the importance of robust monitoring and grievance mechanisms in protecting migrant workers. He stated, “As the primary link between overseas Pakistanis and the government, working under Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development (MOPHRD), CWAs play a crucial role in addressing grievances and ensuring access to support services abroad to Pakistani diaspora spread far and wide. Strengthening monitoring frameworks and providing accessible reporting systems enable migrant workers to seek redressal of their concerns.
By integrating international patterned best practices into Pakistan’s labor migration framework, we can enhance protection mechanisms, improve grievance redressal, and equip the workers with right kind of direction. By providing necessary support to workers ensuring them of ownership and protection throughout.”
Syed Ather Iqbal, former chairman POEPA, appreciated the collaborative efforts and highlighted the crucial role of OEPs in securing foreign job demands and boosting remittances. He expressed gratitude to ICMPD and MRC for organising the workshop and reiterated the shared commitment to responsible labour migration.
Saadur Rehman Khan, Project Manager MRCs Pakistan, expressed his gratitude to POEPA for their participation in the training and appreciated the commitment of the OEPs. He emphasised that OEPs are key partners for the MRCs in terms of ensuring the protection of migrants and their families. He assured that MRCs will continue to support OEPs in promoting ethical recruitment and migrant welfare in Pakistan.
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