Pakistan – Forced labour & modern slavery
CHAPTER 2: Protect, Respect, Remedy Framework
Pillar I | State Duty to Protect Human Rights (page 12)
‘Pakistan’s domestic legal framework provides various guarantees and includes protection of the rights of workers especially in relation to […] forced labour […].’
CHAPTER 3: National Action Plan Priority Areas and Proposed Actions
3.2. NAP Priority Areas
3.2.4 | Labour Standards and the Informal Economy (page 28)
‘Pakistan has also ratified several ILO Conventions that require States to […] eradicate […] forced labour or any forms of modern slavery.’
3.2.6 | Forced or Bonded Labour (page 33)
‘The Constitution of Pakistan and Pakistan’s core criminal legislation, the Pakistan Penal Code, prohibit forced or bonded labour. The Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act 2018 and the Bonded Labour (Abolition) Act 1992 also prohibit bonded labour. Additionally, the Bonded Labour (Abolition) Act calls for the establishment of Vigilance Committees at the district level to monitor and report any instances of forced or bonded labour. Pakistan has ratified ILO Convention No. 29 (Forced Labour) and ILO Convention 105 (Abolition of Forced Labour), and is committed to eliminating forced or bonded labour.’
Proposed Actions
- Federal (pages 33-34)
‘55. Ratify Protocol to ILO Convention No. 29 (Forced Labour).
Performance indicator(s): (i) Steps taken required prior to ratification; (ii) Ratification of Convention
UN Guiding Principle(s): 1, 3
Relevant SDG(s): Goal 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth; Goal 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institution’
This information is also covered under Appendix 1: Implementation Plan, Proposed Action 55 designating the Federal Cabinet, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Law and Justice and the Ministry of Human Rights as Leading Entities, and designating the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs as Additional Entity (page 66).
‘56. Amend the Bonded Labour (Abolition) Act 1992 to provide more stringent punishments against those violating the law and to incorporate provisions on Government aid and rehabilitation programs for victims of forced or bonded labour.
Performance indicator(s): (i) Amendment to law
UN Guiding Principle(s): 1, 3, 25
Relevant SDG(s): Goal 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth; Goal 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions’
This information is also covered under Appendix 1: Implementation Plan, Proposed Action 56 designating the Ministry of Law and Justice and the Ministry of Human Rights as Leading Entities, and designating the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, the Parliamentary Functional Committee on Human Rights and the National Commission on the Rights of the Child as Additional Entities (page 67).
‘57. Amend Section 374 of the Pakistan Penal Code (in relation to unlawful compulsory labour) to increase the sentence from the current one-year sentence up to a maximum of life imprisonment for the most severe violations. Performance indicator(s): Amendment to the Pakistan Penal Code
UN Guiding Principle(s): 1, 3
Relevant SDG(s): Goal 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth; Goal 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions’
This information is also covered under Appendix 1: Implementation Plan, Proposed Action 57 designating the Ministry of Law and Justice and the Ministry of Human Rights as Leading Entities, and designating the Ministry of Interior, the National Commission on the Rights of the Child, the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, the Parliamentary Functional Committee on Human Rights and the Federal Judicial Academy as Additional Entities (page 67).
- Federal and Provincial (page 34)
‘58. Ensure the establishment, proper functioning, and introduce capacity-building programmes for District Vigilance Committees, established under the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act 1992.
Performance indicator(s): (i) Number of District Vigilance Committees established and functional; (ii) Number of capacity-building activities
UN Guiding Principle(s): 1, 3, 8
Relevant SDG(s): Goal 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth; Goal 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions’
This information is also covered under Appendix 1: Implementation Plan, Proposed Action 58 designating the Ministry of Human Rights, the Provincial Human Rights Departments and the Provincial Labour Departments as Leading Entities, and designating the Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform, the Ministry of Industries & Production, the National Commission on the Rights of the Child, CSOs, NGOs and Trade/Labour Unions as Additional Entities (page 67).