ILO Conventions and Gender Dimensions of Labour Laws in Pakistan

Like in the other developing countries, women labour force participation rate is rising gradually in Pakistan. Their employment is mostly concentrated in the informal sector, agriculture sector and in the home-based industries. Pakistan is signatory to ILO Conventions 100 and 111. As a result, various efforts were made in the country to make labour laws and policies in line with these conventions. The paper examines country labour laws with an objective to explore whether these are in accordance with the Pakistan’s international commitments. The paper analysis how far various provisions of the labour laws regarding women workers have been able to address the concerns of these two conventions. It also highlights weaknesses of labour laws and suggests means and ways as a way forward for overhauling of these laws, especially, in the context of the scenario after the 18th Constitutional Amendment.