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Pakistan
Trade unionism in Pakistan began in Pakistan's pre-independence period, with the introduction of railways, agriculture, and a wage-earning population.
When the International Labour Organization (ILO) was established in 1919, it increased the growth and development of trade union movements across the globe. In 1969, Pakistan enacted the Industrial Relations Ordinance, which was a significant benchmark for the Pakistani trade union movement. In the late 20th century, the ILO adopted of the 1987 Convention on the rights of association and the 1998 Convention on the right of collective bargaining. Pakistan's ratification of these important conventions soon after gaining independence paved the way for more legislation that favoured workers' rights in the country.
However, the trade union movement was initially opposed by employers, especially in the early 1950s. Most employers in sectors such as railways, telecommunications, and power industries were government bureaucrats; they followed colonial authoritarian traditions and were not in favour of trade unions. The private sector also were not in favour of trade unions. The formation of trade unions was resisted and obstructions were created by a variety of methods, such as not recognizing trade unions as legitimate and creating rival trade unions at the same plants. Additionally, during Pakistan's period of dictatorship (especially from 2002 to 2008), trade unions were badly affected: the public had no rights or freedom to associate with any unions.
Today, the role of trade unions in Pakistan is to strengthen the labour movement, push for the implementation of improved labour laws, and to promote the tripartite system for government legislation.
Futher Reading
Hippler, J. & Dayo, A. (2021). Mapping Labour Unions in Pakistan. Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES), Pakistan Office.