The International Labor Organization (ILO) estimates that 3.4 million people in Pakistan are victims of forced labor, which is against the law and amounts to a grave violation of their human rights. This figure represents over 10 percent of the 28 million fatalities worldwide. The status of migrant laborers is particularly troubling because they are three times more likely than non-migrants to be exposed to forced labor. Given that over 6.5 million Pakistanis have legally sought employment abroad during the past ten years, mostly in countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, this issue needs to be addressed right now.
Together, the US Department of Labor (USDOL) and the International Labor Organization (ILO) organized a two-day training event in Lahore to discuss this crucial subject. The session was held at a nearby hotel and was overseen by the “Bridge Project,” an initiative to end forced labor and promote fair labor practices. The goal of the program was to give journalists the skills they would need to write on fair employment practices and forced labor.
Thirty-five journalists from print, electronic, radio, and digital media channels attended the event.
Dr Faisal Iqbal, the ILO National Project Coordinator, believes that the media is essential in encouraging ethical employment practices and educating the public about forced labor.
