Karachi: Workers' organizations in Pakistan have called for the implementation of effective safety systems and independent labor inspections, as well as the immediate ratification of International Labour Organization (ILO) Conventions No. 155 and No. 187. Poor occupational health and safety standards have turned various workplaces into hazardous environments, resulting in numerous accidents and fatalities. Labor leaders emphasized that the protection of workers' lives is a fundamental human and labor right, not a matter of charity or employer discretion.
According to Home-Based Women Workers Federation, a seminar organized by the National Trade Union Federation Pakistan (NTUF) highlighted the dire state of occupational health and safety in the country. The event was attended by representatives from trade unions, workers' organizations, occupational safety experts, and other stakeholders from industrial sectors including garments, construction, mining, and ship-breaking. During the seminar, Nasir Mansoor of NTUF underscored the tragic Baldia factory fire of 2012, which resulted in the deaths of 260 workers, as a stark example of the failure of industrial safety in Pakistan.
The seminar also addressed other industrial tragedies such as the 2016 Gadani ship-breaking explosion and the 2026 coal mine incident in Sorange, which collectively claimed the lives of numerous workers. Mansoor stressed the need for a preventive safety system rather than compensatory measures. He pointed out that according to ILO research, hundreds of deaths occur annually in Pakistan's mining sector alone, with many going unreported.
Globally, the ILO reports that approximately 2.93 million people die each year from work-related accidents and diseases, highlighting that workplace safety is a significant humanitarian and economic issue. Zehra Khan of the Home-Based Women Workers Federation emphasized that industrial disasters should not be dismissed as mere accidents, as they often result from preventable failures in safety protocols. She advocated for international mechanisms like the Pakistan Accord and Global Framework Agreements to play a more significant role in safeguarding workers' rights and safety.
The seminar concluded with a series of demands from the workers' organizations, including independent labor inspections, the establishment of health and safety committees, and the enforcement of international safety standards in hazardous industries. Labor leaders pledged to continue their efforts to hold the government, employers, and global brands accountable for ensuring the safety and well-being of workers.