SIALKOT: A two-day training programme on ‘Promoting Gender Responsive Practices at Workplace,’ organised by the Employers Federation of Pakistan (EFP) in collaboration with International Labour Organisation (ILO) with the support of Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry concluded here on Friday afternoon at Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Speaking on the occasion, President EFP, Haji Muhammad Javed said this workshop is a part of its collaboration under ‘Towards Gender Parity in Pakistan’ (TGP) Project. He said that gender equality and empowerment of women are essential to overcome poverty, understanding of the vital links between decent work, poverty reduction and gender equality is a priority for today, he said.
He said gender equality in the employment sector is a shared responsibility of government, private sector and civil society and each having a distinct role and approach. The training will enable the participants to understand the basic concepts related to gender equality, increase knowledge on gender responsive work practice, acquire tools and skills in gender mainstreaming and understand gender specific LO conventions, he added.
Addressing the workshop, Project Manager ILO, Syed Sadd Hussain Gilani said the employment rate of women has reached 53 percent globally while in Pakistan, their share in national income is less than 20 percent due to imbalance in gender equality. The aim of the ILO is to promote rights at work, encourage decent employment opportunities, enhance social protection and strengthen dialogue on work-related issues he said.
He further said that ILO standards, which have become the catalyst for new economic and legal norms affecting the working women, cover issues such as remuneration, discrimination in employment and occupation, maternity protection, workers with family responsibilities and special measures relating to the night shifts and underground work etc.
Project Manager ILO said that gender equality is a set of actions, attitudes and assumption that provide opportunities and create expectation about individuals’ adding that in our definition of gender equality, gender is never separate from race, ethnicity, language, disability, income or other diversities that define us as human beings. The two-day workshop was attended by females and males belonging to the business community.
Source: Business Recorder
Date:9/10/2011
