Karachi: The First National IR Webinar was hosted by SIRP considering the current challenges to businesses and employment sector on April 30.
This webinar was first Online IR Conference (Webinar) of its kind in Pakistan.
Experts from HR and IR profession participated online from all major industrial cities of the country including Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Rahim Yar Khan, Haripur and Thar Parkar.
Nationally known personalities Azhar Bilal, Jamil Afzal Bajwa, Tariq Mahmood, Malik Abdul Qayyum Raza, Asif Zahoor, Alia Iqbal, Shafiq Ghauri, Irfan Mahmood, Mohammad Akram, Dilawar Khan Tanoli, Mohammad Shahid, Mohammad Emaduddin, Ahsan Cheema, Raja Tauqeer, Mohammad Dilpazir, Syed Kazim Ali Shah, Asif Comboh and Raja Naveed attended and the proceedings of the conference were broadcast live on social media.
Speakers emphasized that people from all walks of life, especially Line managers, HR, finance and administration managers, need to equip the skills of industrial relations in interest to ensure legally compliant progressive workplaces.
It was suggested to the government that a tripartite conference be convened in the interest of industrial peace in consultation with all stakeholders to formulate a strategy to control the damage in difficult times. Most of the labour laws that were framed in the context of industrial development and labor movements in the 1950s, 60s and 70s also need to be reviewed to match with modern requirements.
In particular, compliance with standing orders, health & safety and social compliance standards requires consultation before legislation at the national level to make it easier for exporter companies to obtain export orders.
It was also emphasized that the fourth Industrial Revolution 4.0 with digitalisation has begun internationally and we need immediate steps to harmonize the manpower and our commercial & industrial enterprises for the survival in competitive environment. In order to adapt to this industrial revolution, imports of modern digitalise machinery and equipment should be exempted from taxes and duties. The provision of the fastest internet should be extended to every city, town and village, which will boost the freelance and gig economy, which will lead to employment as well as increase the country’s foreign exchange reserves.
The curriculum of skills development intuitions like tevta should also be reviewed to go beyond the traditional fields of electrician and plumber etc. Their is a need to launch courses to develop smart mechanics to provide manpower in line with industrial need in the near future.
Speakers said that where the Corona epidemic has affected business activities, it has increased the stress on employees, which is a big challenge for organizations to keep them normal and for this, most organizations are committed to healthy mental engagement of employees. Various online training programs have been introduced and other institutions should follow the spirit.
The speakers also stressed that in the current difficult situation, temporary or permanent separation (lay offs) from employment should not be the first priority. Government incentives, especially the provision of low-interest loans including loans for payment of wages and the financial condition of the institutions themselves should be taken into consideration before making tough decisions.
In addition, strict guidelines issued by the government were urged to be strictly adhered to in order to protect the manpower and the institutions from the effects of the epidemic.
This Pakistan’s first online conference (webinar) starting on the evening of April 30 and continued till change of date to 1 May 2020 in midnight as an expression of solidarity with the workers.
Finally, on behalf of the organizers, Raja Naveed congratulated the speakers and thousands of viewers who were watching the live broadcast for being part of this historic Pakistan’s First National IR Webinar (online conference) and thanked them for attending.
