Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Government’s efforts to develop and strengthen
National Occupational Safety & Health System
Presentation by
Ministry of Labour & Manpower, Government of Pakistan
(Muhammad Iqbal, Chief Inspector of Mines)
at
Study Visit on Occupational Health and Safety to
SESRIC and ISGUM, Ankara-Turkey, 24-29 May, 2010.
Occupational Safety & Health System

Policy Framework.

Regulatory Legislation.

Enforcement Arrangements.
Policy Framework for OSH
Policy Framework for OSH

Labour Policy.

Labour Protection Policy.

Labour Inspection Policy.

Tri-partite (Employers, Workers & Government)
consensus for policy development.

Extension to all sectors of economy.

Stress on promotion and improvement.
Labour Policy
Vision:

Dignity of labour.

Decent working conditions.

Strengthening bilateralism.

Workers and employers encouraged to
build on the minimum standards set by
the State.
Labour Policy
(contd.)
Features:

Highest priority to OSH of labour.

Establishment of a National Occupational
Safety & Health Council.

Consolidation of laws relating to OSH.
Labour Policy
(contd.)

Promotion of research and training in OSH.

Reorganization of inspection services.
Labour Protection Policy
Objectives:
• Increased
protection
and
working conditions for workers.
improved
• Productivity enhancement through a safer
and healthier working environment.
Labour Protection Policy
(contd.)
Features:
Coverage:
•
Workers engaged under formal contracts.
•
Protection to workers employed under
non-traditional arrangements.
Labour Protection Policy
(contd.)
Work Safety and Occupational Health:
•
Written OSH policy by enterprises.
•
Provincial Labour Inspectorates to assist
in preparation of such documents.
Labour Protection Policy
(contd.)
OSH Institutes:
Establishment of Provincial Occupational
Safety & Health Institutes to provide:
•
Technical information;
•
Training;
•
Research; and
•
Testing services.
Labour Protection Policy
(contd.)
Labour Administration Capacity Building:
Plan highlighting:
•
Human resource;
•
Logistics;
•
Information; and
•
Managerial requirements.
Labour Inspection Policy
Objectives:

Flexible, transparent, fair and innovative
approaches to inspection.

Coverage of both formal & informal sectors.

Utilization of services available in private
sector.

Implementation of policies and laws.

Increased harmony and cooperation
between workers and managers.
Labour Inspection Policy
(contd.)
The Government plans to revitalize and
restructure the inspection system through
following initiatives:
 Registration and risk assessment.
 Integrated inspection.
 Self-inspection and self-reporting.
 Systems inspection.
 Labour extension.
 Private sector involvement.
Labour Inspection Policy
(contd.)
Registration and risk assessment:

Registration of all workplaces
Provincial Labour Inspectorates.
with

Establishment of criteria for determining
the workplaces ‘at risk’.

Identification of vulnerable enterprises.

Focus on enterprises posing the greatest
threat to workers’ protection.
Labour Inspection Policy
(contd.)
Integrated inspection:

Rationalization of inspection
through progressive integration.

‘One enterprise-one inspector’.
systems
Labour Inspection Policy
(contd.)
Self-inspection and self-reporting:

‘Low risk’ enterprises.

Self-check and report using a checklist.

Actual visit of labour inspector to fewer
enterprises.

Advisory role of labour inspector.
Labour Inspection Policy
(contd.)
Systems inspection:

Focus on systems the enterprise has in
place to prevent accidents, protect
workers and improve working conditions.

Advisory role of Inspector.
Labour Inspection Policy
(contd.)
Private sector involvement:

Introduction of accredited companies and
individuals under a licensing system for
specified inspection work.
Labour Inspection Policy
(contd.)
Labour Extension:

Coverage to workers not traditionally covered by
national labour laws.
Labour Inspection Policy
(contd.)
Capacity building for inspection work:

Establishment of a National Labour
Inspectorate as the central inspection
authority.

Provincial Labour Inspectorates to serve
as focal point for all inspection functions
at provincial level.

Training of inspectors and establishment
of information database.
Regulatory Legislation
for OSH
Regulatory Legislation for OSH
A set of laws applicable to specific activities:

Factories Act, 1934.

Mines Act, 1923.

Dock Labourers Act, 1934.

Railways Act, 1890.


Boilers and Pressure
Vessels Ordinance, 2002.
Workmen’s Compensation
Act, 1923




Shops and Establishments
Ordinance, 1969.
Road Transport Workers
Ordinance, 1961.
Hazardous Occupations Rules,
1963.
Provincial Employees’ Social
Security Ordinance, 1965.
Consolidation and updating of laws is under process.
Enforcement Arrangements
for OSH
Enforcement Arrangements for
OSH Services
Federal Ministry of
Labour & Manpower
Directorate of Dock Workers Safety
Central Inspectorate of Mines
Provincial
Labour/Industries/
Mines Departments
Inspectorates of Boilers
Directorates of Labour Welfare
(Labour Inspectorates)
Setting the overall policy and
goals, framing of new laws, review of
existing laws, adoption of international
conventions and protocols.
Inspectorates of Mines
Supervision of
enforcement of laws and
policies in the provinces
Government Organizations engaged
at OSH Services
Federal:
Central Inspectorate of Mines:
–
Regulates OSH concerns in the mines in direct
federal jurisdiction, i.e. oil-fields, gas-fields and
mines of nuclear substances;
–
Conducts job-related training programmes for
workers, supervisors and managers regarding
H2S hazards, rescue work and to raise
awareness about safety laws.
–
Also serves as ILO-CIS National Centre and
country
representative
on
APOSHO
for
promotion of OSH culture.
Government Organizations engaged
at OSH Services (contd.)
Federal:
Directorate of Dock Workers Safety:
Regulates safety of dock workers employed in
loading and unloading cargo at ports and ships.
National Institute of Fire Technology:
Imparts training in fire safety/fire-fighting.
Government Organizations engaged
at OSH Services (contd.)
Provincial:
Directorates of Labour Welfare:
Monitor OSH aspects in commercial and industrial
undertakings under Factories Act, 1934 and West Pakistan
Shops & Establishments Ordinance, 1969.
Centre for the Improvement of Working Conditions and
Environment/Occupational Safety & Health Centre:
Provide training on occupational safety, industrial hygiene,
risk assessment, chemical safety, selection and use of
personal protective equipments, ergonomics, first-aid and
occupational diseases management etc.
Civil Defense Academy:
For training in first-aid & fire-fighting etc.
Government Organizations engaged
at OSH Services (contd.)
Provincial:
Inspectorates of Mines:
Regulate OSH concerns in mines other than those of
mineral oil, natural gas and nuclear substances.
Mine Rescue & Safety Training Centers:
Impart safety training to managers, supervisors and
workers and provide mine rescue services, under the
umbrella of Inspectorate of Mines.
Inspectorates of Boilers:
To regulate safety in pressure vessel/boiler operation.
Enforcement Arrangements for
OSH Services (contd.)
Inspection Staff:

Labour Inspectors:
Small industrial and all commercial enterprises
under West Pakistan Shops & Establishments
Ordinance, 1969.

Labour Officers/Technical Inspectors of Factories:
Factories under the Factories Act, 1934.

Inspectors of Mines under Mines Act, 1923.
Enforcement Arrangements for
OSH Services (contd.)
Work on a devolution plan is under
way to empower the provincial
governments
for
enhancing
the
system efficiency.
The institutional set-up would be
revitalized and restructured in the
light of new policy framework.
Conclusions
 OSH is placed high on the Government’s
agenda.
 A comprehensive programme has been
launched for updating policies and laws
and capacity building/strengthening of
institutional arrangements in the light of
international
standards,
innovative
approaches and recognized practices to
provide better services in the field of OSH.
Conclusions
(contd.)
 The policies and legislation lay emphasis
on providing an environment conducive
for development of a healthy and wellmotivated productive workforce through
achievement of necessary goodwill and
cooperation of the three partners –
government, employers and workers.
 System improvement followed as a
continuous and reiterative process to
meet the needs of changing times.
Thank You