LAHORE: International Labour Organisation (ILO) Director General Gilbert F Houngbo, leading a delegation, called on Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Thursday and appreciated the provincial government’s measures for the welfare of industrial workers, including the allocation of apartments and provision of ration cards.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed workers’ welfare, labour laws, ration cards, labour colonies and measures for improving working conditions in Punjab. Director General Gilbert F Houngbo also congratulated the chief minister on receiving the UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour award.
The Chief Minister said the Punjab Labour Code 2026 had been enforced following approval by the provincial cabinet. She said the government was ensuring an increase in minimum wages, registration of workers and strict implementation of labour laws.
The Chief Minister said more than 70,000 children had been identified and removed from forced labour, while 3,644 children had been enrolled in schools. Rehabilitation centres and dedicated help lines were also being established for the elimination of child labour.
She said minimum wages had been ensured for 4.9 million workers over the past three years, while 752 FIRs had been registered over violations. As many as 42,858 inspections and 22,547 advisories had also been issued to ensure compliance with occupational safety and health laws.
According to the chief minister, 1.2 million industrial workers in Punjab had so far received Rs3.7 billion through the Maryam Nawaz Ration Card programme. She said the Labour Information Management System (LIMS) was being used to monitor enforcement of minimum wages, curb child labour and improve occupational safety and health standards. The system had also been linked with Rescue 1122 to ensure prompt coordination in case of industrial accidents.
The CM Punjab said new occupational safety and health centres were being established in Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi and Rahim Yar Khan. Pakistan’s first Occupational Safety and Health Laboratory would be established in Lahore this year, while an OSH laboratory in Faisalabad would be completed by the end of the year.
She said 577 day-care centres were being established under the Directorate General of Labour Welfare to encourage greater participation of women in private factories and offices.
The Chief Minister 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 wanted ILO’s support in incorporating international labour standards into economic growth and supply chains.
Director General Gilbert F Houngbo appreciated the significant increase in grants for workers’ welfare.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026