Pakistan Labour Academy (PLA)
A flagship project of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Pakistan to build the capacities of trade unions and workers’ organizations in Pakistan
Background
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Pakistan Labour Academy (PLA) is a pioneering initiative in Pakistan for emerging young leaders from the trade union movement to participate in an intensive cross-sectoral, residential and fully-funded one-week training program in the fields of industrial relations, the economy and decent work. It is an initiative of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (Pakistan) to create an all-inclusive representation of workers’ interests and to foster a more effective social dialogue. The PLA was launched in 2023 in collaboration with the National Industrial Relations Commission (NIRC) and the Sindh Human Rights Commission (SHRC). In the first cohort, 28 young trade unionists graduated from the Academy. PLA serves as a platform for talented and young trade unionists who are dedicated to promoting social justice and decent work in Pakistan. In 2024, FES Pakistan, in collaboration with the Sindh Human Rights Commission (SHRC) and National Institute of Labour Administration Training (NILAT), is planning to launch the second phase of “Pakistan Labour Academy (PLA) 2024” – to provide comprehensive education and training programs to contribute to developing a better understanding of industrial relations and workers’ participation, labour laws, successful labour relations, promoting social dialogue and ensuring decent work in Pakistan. |
About the Academy
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Pakistan Labour Academy (PLA) is a flagship project of FES Pakistan which intends to provide comprehensive education and training programs to contribute to developing a better understanding of industrial relations and workers participation, labour laws, successful labour relations, promoting social dialogue and ensuring decent work in Pakistan. In our short and long-term courses including seminars, PLA imparts theoretical and practical knowledge for the young male and female trade unionists and the practitioners of labour support organizations in the country for their professional and personal development. In order to achieve our objectives, FES maintains close cooperation with government institutions particularly labour departments, trade unions and civil society organizations. We organized residential short certificate course for young trade unionists in acquiring knowledge and tools enabling them to take an active part in public debate and policy formulation and implementation related to labour affairs. In this course, a pool of senior academics, veteran labour scholars and trainers helped the graduates to debate and analyse the causes of the decline in the labour movement, share of labour force in the national economy, increasing wealth disparity and the informalization of workers in Pakistan. Through interactive collaboration in seminars, the participants and the management of FES assess and develops future strategies to enforce decent work conditions along with the labour reform agenda. The module seminars covers the following themes: |
| - History of Trade Union Movement in Pakistan |
| - Basic Trade Union Education |
| - Collective Bargaining and Trade Unions |
| - International Labour Standards and ILO Core Conventions |
| - Industrial Relations and Labour Judiciary |
| - Local Government System and Labour Laws |
| - Participation of Women in Trade Unions |
| - Social Protection and Social Safety Nets |
| - Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) in Pakistan |
The tenth module is designed to task the participants to develop a future plan of action using the Power Resources Approach (Power Mapping). Overall, the Academy aims at ensuring a transfer of knowledge and skills from PLA’s short course to the young representatives of the worker organisations in Pakistan. |
Admission Requirements
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This residential program will take place at NILAT Karachi and will have multiple sessions for a week. This is a fair and competence-based opportunity. To be eligible for participation, candidates must meet the following criteria: - The candidate’s age should be between 20 to 35 years. - The candidate must be a trade unionist or active in the labour movement; - The candidate’s minimum qualification should be Matriculation. - The candidate must have at least two years of trade union-related work experience; - The candidate will seek a Letter of Recommendation from his/her trade union or federation in support of his/her participation. - The candidate must have a good command of Urdu speaking and writing. |
How to apply
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If you fulfil the above criteria, you can submit 1) a simple application on plain paper showing your interest, which can be written either in English or Urdu, 2) a copy of your matriculation/intermediate certificate, 3) a CV, 4) a letter of recommendation from your trade union/federation, 5) a copy of CNIC The above documents should be submitted at abdullah.dayo@fes.de before 7th February 2024. A team of experts will review all applications and notify the selected applicants via email and phone calls by 10th February 2024. There is no fixed number of applicants taken in one cohort. However, the program usually takes in up to 30 participants per cohort. FES Pakistan will cover all the costs of transportation, accommodation and food. Participants will not pay any fee during the application or throughout the program. If you have further questions, please contact us at abdullah.dayo@fes.de or call +923455574062 |
Financing
| There is no tuition fee. The selected candidates for Pakistan Labour Academy’s course will receive support from Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Pakistan for their road and air travel, accommodation and food and other day-to-day program related expenses. |
Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung
Pakistan Office
P.O. Box 1289
Islamabad, Pakistan
+92 51 2803391-4
info.pakistan(at)fes.de
Contact
Abdullah Dayo
Program Advisor / Coordinator for Pakistan Labour Academy
Phone: +92 345 5574062
Email: abdullah.dayo(at)fes.de