Salik’s Abu Dhabi Dialogue meetings cover migrant welfare, vocational training
Minister of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Chaudhry Salik Hussain. PHOTO: APP
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan on Sunday stepped up labor diplomacy by engaging Bangladesh and the Philippines on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi Dialogue, exchanging views on common challenges faced by overseas workers and exploring cooperation in skills development, education systems and migrant welfare frameworks.
Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Chaudhry Salik Hussain met Bangladesh’s Adviser on Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, Dr. Asif Nazrul, where both sides discussed workforce mobility, recruitment practices and strategies to better prepare expatriate workers for international markets.
The Pakistani delegation briefed the meeting on initiatives of the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC), while Bangladesh shared insights into 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 education, health, tourism and trade were also discussed, while the chairman of the Employees’ Old Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) outlined Pakistan’s social protection mechanisms for workers, including institutional mandates and coverage targets.
In a separate engagement, Hussain held talks with the Department of Migrant Workers of the Philippines, 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 extensive pre-departure training programs for foreign workers.
