A rigid compliance to the social standards as envisaged by the importers in Europe is our first priority and we will do it with the co-operation of our exporters. This message was given by Tariq Ikram, Chairman, Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), to the audience at a symposium on "Social Standards Awareness for Suppliers Exporting to Europe", at a local hotel on Saturday.
The event was organised by GTZ, the German international development co-operation agency, and AVE, the German foreign retail trade association.
The symposium was the part of an 11-country programme where GTZ and AVE are currently initiating and establishing national roundtables and organising awareness-raising events on behalf of the German Ministry of Economic Co-operation and Development.
Tariq Ikram expressed a sense of profound satisfaction about the increasing exports from Pakistan. "An increase in export figure from $7 billion to $14 billion is a remarkable achievement," he said and proudly announced: "We are a developing country and moving to the right direction with missionary zeal."
The EPB chief informed the businessmen that the social compliance was not the requirement of importers only, rather it was strict condition from the European consumers. He said that is why they pressurise the exporters to comply with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) regulations and added that it was now a world-wide phenomenon and Pakistani export houses have to realise it now.
Tariq Ikram thought that it was not difficult to profit from the standardised export ventures if quality of products, timely delivery and reliability was maintained immaculately. "So there was no need to cut the wages of the employees. They should not be the victims."
He hoped that the social compliance will be taken seriously by the business community and it will not be on an ad hoc basis.
While replying to a question about the trade unions, the EPB chairman negated the idea that they were the troublemakers only. On the contrary, he thought that they were very useful for the healthy growth of the company and said that there should be mutual respect between the employers and employees and the company will bloom to benefit all.
German Consul General Verena Graefin Von Roedern came to the point directly when she said, "Globalisation means a standard practice globally in labour force". She said jokingly that she had copied it from the poster of a German company, which is in the business of social compliance. But the message was clear: stick to the strict social demands from the importing company or forget the exports.
Von Roedern acknowledged that poverty plays a major part in employing child labour. She mentioned that a football-manufacturing factory in Sialkot has opened a school. "Poor children study there and they are also paid stipends. In this way child labour was eradicated while considering its root-cause."
Al-Abid Silk Mills Chairman Naseem Sattar spoke and synthesised the different reasons for the employer-employee problems. He was of the opinion that labour force was an important factor and could not be ignored or deprived of his due share.
The industrialist deplored the miserly behaviour of the employers and urged them to be more generous in their dealings.
Dr Faiz Shah conducted the proceedings and encouraged the participants to speak frankly.
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