To learn more about Business and Human Rights and why it is important to develop a National Action Plan in Pakistan, you can refer to the numerous laws, reports, and publications compiled below:
Resources
- United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights
- The United Nations Guiding Principles on Human Rights (Core Principles)
The United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights were unanimously endorsed by the UN Human Rights Council in 2011. Developed by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General John Ruggie, the Guiding Principles provide a global standard for protection of human rights within the context of business activity.
- National Action Plans on Business and Human Rights – A Toolkit for the Development, Implementation, and Review of State Commitments to Business and Human Rights Frameworks
- Guidance on National Action Plans on Business and Human Rights
- Frequently Asked Questions About the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights
- Gender Dimensions of the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights
- The Corporate Responsibility to Respect Human Rights – An Interpretive Guide
- Respecting Human Rights – An Introductory Guide for Business
- United Nations Working Group on Business and Human Rights
- National Action Plans on Business and Human Rights From Around the Globe
- Business and Human Rights Resource Centre
- Danish Institute of Human Rights – Business and Human Rights
- Database of Company Human Rights Policies
- Status of Labour Rights in Pakistan – Pakistan Institute of Labour Education & Research
- Recognizing the Impact of Business on Human Rights: Challenges and Opportunities for Pakistan – Democracy Reporting International
- Human Rights Due Diligence in Pakistan – Ethical Trading Initiative
- OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises
- OECD-FAO Guidance for Responsible Agricultural Supply Chains
- OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Mineral Supply Chains in Conflict-Affected and High-Risk areas
- OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains in the Garment and Footwear Sector
- ISO 26000 – Guidance on Social Responsibility
- IFC Performance Standards
- The ETI Base Code
- Factories Act 1934
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Factories Act 2013
- Sindh Factories Act 2015
- The Shops and Establishments Ordinance 1969- applicable in Islamabad and Balochistan
- The Punjab Shops and Establishments Ordinance 1969
- The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Shops and Establishments Act 2015
- The Sindh Shops and Commercial Establishment Act 2015
- The Industrial and Commercial Employment (Standing Order) Ordinance 1968- applicable in Islamabad, Punjab and Balochistan
- The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Industrial and Commercial Employment (Standing Order) Act 2013
- Employees’ Old-Age Benefits Act 1976
- Sindh Employees’ Old-Age Benefits Act 2014
- The Sindh Terms of Employment (Standing Orders) Act 2015
- Mines Act 1923
- Newspaper Employees (Conditions of Service) Act 1973
- Road Transport Workers Ordinance 1961
- Employer’s Liability Act 1938
- Workmen’s Compensation Act 1923 (as amended by the Workmen’s Compensation Act 2013)
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Workers’ Compensation Act 2013
- Sindh Workers’ Compensation Act 2016
- Provincial Employees Social Security Ordinance, 1965
- The Sindh Employees Social Security Act, 2016
- Revised Punjab Leave Rules 1981
- Workers Welfare Fund Ordinance 1971 (as amended in 2008)
- Sindh Workers Welfare Fund Act 2014
- Workers Children (Education) Ordinance 1972
- Companies Profit (Workers Participation) Act 1968
- Punjab Factories Rules 1978
- Weekly Holidays Act 1942
- West Pakistan Minimum Wage Rules 1962
- The Minimum Wages Ordinance 1961 – Applicable in Islamabad, Punjab and Balochistan
- Minimum Wages for Unskilled Workers Ordinance, 1969
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minimum Wages Act 2013
- Sindh Minimum Wages Act 2015
- Minimum Wage Rules 1962
- Payment of Wages Act 1936
- Payment of Wages Rules 1960
- Employee Cost of Living (Relief) Act, 1973
- Sindh Coal & Metalliferous Mines (Supplementary) Regulations 1986
- West Pakistan Maternity Benefit Ordinance 1958
- Provincial Employees Social Security Ordinance 1965
- Sindh Provincial Employees Social Security Act 2016
- Mines Maternity Benefits Act 1941
- Punjab Maternity Benefits Ordinance 1958
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Maternity Benefits Act 2013
- Civil Servants Leave Rules 1968
- Protection against Harassment of Women at Workplace Act 2010
- Punjab Fair Representation of Women Act, 2014
- Punjab Factories Rules 1978
- Metalliferous Mines Regulations 1926
- Coal Mines Regulation 1923
- Disabled Persons (Employment and Rehabilitation) Ordinance 1981- Applicable in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (amended by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Disabled Persons (Employment and Rehabilitation) Amendment Act, 2012)
- Sindh Differently Abled Persons (Employment, Rehabilitation and Welfare) Act 2014
- Hazardous Occupation Rules (Silicon) 2015
- Dock Laborers Act 1934
- Dock Workers (Regulation of Employment) Act 1974
- The Agricultural Pesticide Rules, 1973 (as amended in 2007)
- Hazardous Substance Rules 2003
- Punjab Mining Concession Rules 2002
- Balochistan Mineral Rules 2002
- Sindh Mining Concession Rules 2002
- NWFP Mining Concession Rules 2005
- Punjab Coal Mines Rescue Rules 1988
- Electricity Act 1910
- Electricity Rules 1937
- Industrial Relations Ordinance 2002
- Industrial Relations Act 2012
- Punjab Industrial Relations Act 2010
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Industrial Relations Act 2010
- Balochistan Industrial Relations Act 2010
- Sindh Industrial Relations Act 2013
- Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1992
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 2015
- Sindh Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 2015
- Prevention and Control of Human Trafficking Ordinance, 2002
- Pakistan Penal Code 1860- s. 374
- Code of Criminal Procedure 1898- s. 491
- Employment of Children Act 1991
- Employment of Children Rules 1995
- Punjab Prohibition of Child Labour at Brick Kilns Act, 2016
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Prohibition of Employment of Children Act 2015
- Sindh Prohibition of Employment of Children Act 2017
- Punjab Restriction on Employment of Children Act 2016
- Children (Pledging of Labour) Act, 1933
- Explosives Act 1884
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Explosives Act 2013
- Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2017
- Laws relevant to Business and Human rights:The UNGPs do not introduce new obligations on States or businesses but rather focus the application of existing human rights obligations on business activity and the State’s regulation of it. These existing obligations include those found in the seven core human rights treaties Pakistan has ratified and is, therefore, already legally bound by:
- The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)
- The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)
- The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)
- The Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)
- The Convention Against Torture (CAT)
- The International Convention on the Elimination of all forms Racial Discrimination (ICERD)
- The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)
- Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29)
- Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87)
- Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98)
- Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100)
- Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105)
- Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111)
- Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138)
- Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182)
- Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81)
- Tripartite Consultation (International Labour Standards) Convention, 1976 (No. 144)
- Hours of Work (Industry) Convention, 1919 (No. 1)
- Night Work of Young Persons (Industry) Convention, 1919 (No. 6)
- Right of Association (Agriculture) Convention, 1921 (No. 11)
- Weekly Rest (Industry) Convention, 1921 (No. 14)
- Medical Examination of Young Persons (Sea) Convention, 1921 (No. 16)
- Workmen’s Compensation (Occupational Diseases) Convention, 1925 (No. 18)
- Equality of Treatment (Accident Compensation) Convention, 1925 (No. 19)
- Seamen’s Articles of Agreement Convention, 1926 (No. 22)
- Protection against Accidents (Dockers) Convention (Revised), 1932 (No. 32)
- Underground Work (Women) Convention, 1935 (No. 45)
- Final Articles Revision Convention, 1946 (No. 80)
- Night Work (Women) Convention (Revised), 1948 (No. 89)
- Night Work of Young Persons (Industry) Convention (Revised), 1948 (No. 90)
- Fee-Charging Employment Agencies Convention (Revised), 1949 (No. 96)
- Weekly Rest (Commerce and Offices) Convention, 1957 (No. 106)
- Indigenous and Tribal Populations Convention, 1957 (No. 107)
- Final Articles Revision Convention, 1961 (No. 116)
- Equality of Treatment (Social Security) Convention, 1962 (No. 118)
- Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) Convention, 1983 (No. 159)
- Seafarers’ Identity Documents Convention (Revised), 2003 (No. 185)