Vision Zero Awareness Campaign on Safety, Health and Wellbeing in the Textile and Garment Sector

The textile and garment sector, primarily located in Punjab provinces, is most important branch of the manufacturing industry of Pakistan. Some 15 million people (around 30% of the workforce) are employed in the textile and garment sector. Working conditions are characterised by poor safety standards and low wages, coupled with a lack of constructive dialogue between management, workers and state institutions. Working on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Development and Cooperation (BMZ), the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is assisting the Government of Pakistan to build the capacity of relevant stakeholders in the field of labour standards within the textile and garment sector of Punjab. The Labour Standards Programme (LSP) works closely with the Centre for Improvement of Working Conditions and Environment (CIWCE) to help improve labour standards for workers and educate employers to improve working conditions within their factories.

As part of its assistance, GIZ is providing support to CIWCE in promoting integration of "Vision Zero," seven simple rules companies can follow to achieve zero accidents, at the workplace. GIZ has engaged Center in developing eight short animated awareness videos to accompany material already developed by CIWCE on "Vision Zero" to be used in factories, workshops or conferences as visual aid to better reach to the target audiences. The videos will be widely shared amongst business owners and entrepreneurs, senior managers, workers in the textile and garment industry as well as with the government officials from line departments to build their capacity on better integration of safety, health and wellbeing practices to avoid workplace hazards.