Salik meetings at Abu Dhabi Dialogue focus on migrant welfare, vocational training
Minister of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Chaudhry Salik Hussain. PHOTO: APPLICATION
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan on Sunday intensified its labor diplomacy by engaging Bangladesh and the Philippines on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi Dialogue, exchanging views on common challenges faced by foreign workers and exploring cooperation on skills development, training systems and welfare frameworks for migrants.
Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Chaudhry Salik Hussain met with Bangladesh Advisor on Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Dr Asif Nazrul where both sides discussed labor mobility, recruitment practices and strategies to better prepare the expatriate workforce for international markets.
The Pakistani delegation briefed the meeting on the initiatives of the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC), while Bangladesh shared its views on the functioning of its Technical Training Centers (TTCs), with both sides expressing interest in structured collaboration on human resource development.
Opportunities to expand bilateral cooperation in the areas of education, health, tourism and trade were also discussed, while the Chairman of the Employees’ Old Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) presented Pakistan’s workers’ social protection mechanisms, including institutional mandates and coverage targets.
In a separate engagement, Hussain held discussions with Philippine Migrant Workers Department Secretary Hans Leo J Cacdac, focusing on social security systems, pension models and legal frameworks governing the protection of migrant workers.
The EOBI Chairman briefed the Philippine delegation on Pakistan’s eligibility criteria, benefit structures and financial model, while Manila shared details of its pension system and comprehensive pre-departure training programs for foreign workers.
