Speakers highlight importance of social dialogue

Speakers at a seminar underlined the significance of social dialogue terming it an essential tool for advancing equality in the world of work. They were of the view that social dialogue was the most suitable tool for promoting better working conditions and greater social justice.
The seminar 'Social Dialogue and Productivity' was organised by Employers' Federation of Pakistan (EFP) in collaboration with International Labour Organisation (ILO) here at a local hotel on Wednesday. Speakers said that social dialogue could have various aspects; it can be a tripartite process, in which case the government is an official party to the dialogue; it can also consist of bipartite relations between employers and workers' representatives or between trade unions and employers' organisations, in which the government is involved either directly or indirectly.
They said that information sharing, consultations, negotiations were some of the activities most frequently involved in social dialogue. Speaking as a chief guest, Sindh Labour Minister Ameer Nawab Khan said that the present government was paying utmost attention towards the welfare and betterment of the working class.
He said that government had brought about reforms in the labour laws besides minimum wages of the workers were enhanced to Rs 7,000 per month and the EBOI pension was increased by 100 percent. Nawab called for making concerted efforts for the progress and prosperity of the country. President of Employers' Federation of Pakistan Haji Muhammad Javed and ILO representative also spoke on the occasion.