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The establishment of Workers Employers
Bilateral Council of Pakistan (WEBCOP) is a unique example of cooperation
amongst those whose relations used to be mired in tensions and disputes.
At a time when conflicts within societies are rising and room to
compromise is shrinking, a promising step has been taken by workers and
employers organisers in Pakistan to found WEBCOP in July 2000 as an
institutional base for promoting social dialogue.
FES
encouraged both social partners to put aside their differences, derived
mainly from misunderstanding and join hands for the common good of
industrial growth, employment promotion and the overall development of the
country.
Urged by its noble intentions, WEBCOP achieved significant accomplishments
in its initial phase of operation. With the technical and financial
assistance of FES, WEBCOP arranged consultation meetings to develop common
positions on various pressing issues in the field of industrial relations
and labour reform.
WEBCOP
worked out several consensuses during the last 4 years and suggested them
to the government for implementation. For the first time in the history of
Pakistan, workers and employers organisations submitted to the government
a consensual labour policy. Furthermore, WEBCOP assisted the government by
submitting drafts of changes and amendments in various labour laws
including the core labour law of industrial relations.
FES
also supported WEBCOP in establishing its 11 provincial and regional
branches. Employers and workers organisations are increasingly entrusting
WEBCOP to settle their mutual disputes instead of resorting to litigation.
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