Strengthening Human Rights and Decent Work for Youth in Pakistan’s Textile and Leather Industry
Funded by the European Union and implemented in partnership with The Centre for Child Rights and Business. This project is a critical step toward ensuring human rights, decent work, and corporate accountability in two of Pakistan’s most economically vital yet labor-challenged industries.
While these sectors contribute significantly to national exports and employment, they are also marked by child labor, unsafe working conditions, and labor rights violations, especially for youth aged 14–18, women, and marginalized communities. This initiative responds to those challenges with a multi-faceted approach focused on empowerment, legal protection, and sustainable reform.
Project Objectives
🔹 Establishing Child Rights & Youth Action Hubs
Two hubs are being set up in Karachi and Multan to serve as safe spaces for young workers and vulnerable groups. These hubs provide legal support, skills training, psychosocial care, and child- and gender-sensitive grievance redress mechanisms.
🔹 Driving Ethical Business Practices
The project works closely with suppliers, factories, and corporate actors to promote Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) aligned with Pakistan’s GSP+ commitments and the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (EUCSDDD). The goal is to foster transparency, fair labor standards, and ethical supply chains.
🔹 Expanding Decent Work Opportunities for Youth
Through vocational training, mentoring, and job placement, over 200 young workers will gain access to safe and sustainable employment, moving away from hazardous or exploitative conditions.
🔹 Improving Access to Justice
The initiative is creating inclusive and accessible grievance mechanisms so that workers—particularly women and youth can safely report abuse, seek redress, and protect their rights.
🔹 Policy Advocacy and Legal Reform
The initiative is bringing together government institutions, private sector stakeholders, labor unions, and civil society to advocate for stronger labor laws, enforcement mechanisms, and long-term protections for workers.
Towards a Fairer Future
This project with vital support from the European Union aims not only to address immediate labor rights violations, but to build a foundation for lasting change. By working directly with communities, businesses, and policymakers, we are helping transform Pakistan’s textile and leather industries into models of fairness, safety, and human dignity.
At SPARC, we believe no child should be forced into exploitative labor, every young worker deserves a safe workplace, and businesses must be accountable for the well-being of their workforce.
