The Pakistan Business Council (PBC) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have penned down a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in a bid to promote gender equality and family-friendly policies in the workplace among 94 corporate members and 150 affiliate organizations of PBC.
The intention of this two-year partnership is to increase awareness about family-friendly policies in the workplace and provide proper guidance and technical support to private sector companies in this regard.
Moreover, this partnership would also help support the development of gender-conducive and family-friendly workplaces and raise awareness regarding child rights and responsible business practices through events and public advocacy.
Highlighting the necessity for businesses to acknowledge and incorporate family-friendly strategies, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ehsan Malik stated, “Businesses are likely to attract and retain more female employees if they have a comprehensive maternity and childcare policy. PBC looks forward to partnering with UNICEF, to use their knowledge and expertise to advocate for better family-friendly policies in the private sector.”
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He added that placing women and children at the heart of business practices is according to international principles on responsible business. PBC and UNICEF are cooperating to bring Pakistan in line and at par with universal trends, norms, and best practices regarding gender equality.
In this regard, UNICEF Representative in Pakistan Abdullah A. Fadil remarked, “As the leading advocate for child rights in the world, UNICEF is committed and endeavors to protect families so their children could grow and develop to their full potential in a conducive environment. By enhancing family well-being through workplace policies, UNICEF and PBC will work together to secure more positive outcomes for children.”
UNICEF keenly works with the Pakistan government, civil society organizations, and other partners in the country for the development and advancement of children’s rights for their survival, development, protection, and participation, which are guided by the ‘Convention on the Rights of the Child’ to which Pakistan is a signatory.
