ISLAMABAD – International Labour Organization ILO joins hands with the Pakistani government to strengthen fair recruitment systems and promote safer labour migration for overseas workers.
Government officials gathered in Islamabad this week for a major training initiative aimed at improving fair recruitment systems, strengthening labour migration governance, and enhancing protection for Pakistani workers seeking employment abroad.
The two-day programme was organised by the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation under the project “Advancing Safe and Fair Labour Migration.” The initiative is funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), co-funded by the European Union, and supported by GIZ Pakistan.
Pakistan remains one of the world’s leading labour-sending countries. Official figures shared during the training showed that more than 763,000 Pakistanis migrated abroad for employment through formal channels in 2025 alone, contributing significantly to destination economies while supporting millions of families in Pakistan through remittances.
The training brought together representatives from key institutions, including the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment (BEOE), Overseas Employment Corporation (OEC), Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF), provincial labour and human resource departments, and Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authorities (TVETAs).
Speaking at the event, ILO Country Director for Pakistan Geir Tonstol emphasized the importance of building a migration system that protects workers and promotes decent employment opportunities.
“Labour migration should create opportunities for workers — not expose them to debt, exploitation or abuse,” he said, noting that many workers still face excessive recruitment costs, misleading information, and vulnerability even before departure. He stressed that strengthening fair recruitment systems is essential to protecting workers’ rights and ensuring safer migration pathways.
The sessions focused on aligning Pakistan’s recruitment governance framework with international labour standards. Participants discussed monitoring private recruitment agencies, reducing unfair recruitment fees, strengthening labour agreements, standardizing employment contracts, and preventing trafficking, forced labour, fraud, and other exploitative practices.
Deputy Secretary of the Ministry, Farwa Abbas, highlighted the growing challenge posed by fake job advertisements and misinformation circulating on digital platforms. She said fair recruitment is not only about regulating agencies but also about ensuring workers receive accurate and reliable information before leaving the country.
“False promises travel faster than regulations,” she remarked, underscoring the need for governance systems to adapt to the increasing role of digital platforms in labour migration.
The training also sheds light on importance of effective pre-departure orientation, realistic expectation management for migrant workers, and stronger institutional coordination among agencies responsible for overseas employment governance.
Participants are expected to develop both institutional and individual action plans to improve cooperation and strengthen implementation of fair recruitment principles across Pakistan’s labour migration system.
The initiative reflects ongoing collaboration between the Government of Pakistan, the ILO, the European Union, BMZ, and GIZ Pakistan to promote safer, rights-based, and transparent labour migration pathways for Pakistani workers seeking opportunities abroad.
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