Employers’ Federation of Pakistan grants awards to Pakistani enterprises for their contribution towards development of skilled workforce in Pakistan

Karachi, September 26, 2013 (PPI-OT): Employers’ Federation of Pakistan (EFP) on Thursday granted awards to a number of Pakistani enterprises for their contribution towards development of skilled workforce in Pakistan under its 1st Employer of the Year Award 2012.

Awards were given at a ceremony organized by the EFP in collaboration with technical and vocational education and training (TVET) Reform Support Programme, which is co-funded by the European Union, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Federal Republic of Germany and being implemented in Pakistan.

The First Employer of the Year Award, established by the Employers’ Federation of Pakistan with the technical assistance of TVET Reform Support Programme, is to recognize and honour the efforts of large, medium and small enterprises for their contribution and commitment towards creation of skilled workforce and provision of a safe and supportive work environment.

The awards were given in two main categories including Human Resource Development and Work Place Safety by categorisation of companies in large, medium size enterprises.

As per the results, evaluated by a jury of experts, PARCO won the first prize in the large enterprise category of Human Resource Development, while Barrett Hodgson Pakistan Pvt Ltd and Telenor Pakistan shared the second prize. Similarly, Rafhan Maize Products co Limited won the third position in the same category.

In the medium enterprise category of Human Resource Development Lotte Chemical Pakistan Ltd, EPLA Laboratories Pvt Ltd and Pepsi Co respectively won the first, second and third positions.

For the work place safety within the large enterprise category, Crescent Steel andAllied Products Limited won the first position, while Barrett Hodgson Pakistan Pvt Ltd and Clariant Pakistan Limited shared the second, whereas PARCO secured the third position in this category.

Within the medium enterprise category of workplace safety, TOTAL PARCO, Shafi Reso- Chemical and Lotte Chemical Pakistan Ltd won first, second and third positions respectively.

Accordingly Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of Barrett Hodgson Pakistan Pvt Ltd and Lotte Chemical Pakistan Ltd won the Best CEO of Year Award for winning awards in more than one category.

Mr. Arif Elahi, Secretary Industries, Government of Sindh, who was the Chief guest for the award ceremony, appreciated the initiative taken by the EFP had the following to say: “It gives me immense joy to be part of an event that is organized by a body that encourages healthy competition between companies and plays a vital role in bringing together corporate entities that have a huge part to play in shaping the national economy.

He opined that the EFP Employer of the Year Award 2012 will play a catalytic role in promoting technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in Pakistan with more active role of the private sector at delivery as well as policy formulation.

He also lauded the efforts of EU, Dutch and German governments for reforming the TVET sector of Pakistan.

Hans-Ludwig Bruns, Coordinator TVET Reform Support Programme/GIZ, in his keynote address appreciated the Pakistani enterprises for their contribution towards creation of a skilled workforce for Pakistan. He said in countries with better TVET system, the companies’ plays an active role in policy formulation and delivery of training according to the market needs.

He said TVET Reform Support Programme is also trying, through different reform measures, to promote and mainstream the role of the enterprises in the delivery of TVET. Citing the example of a special initiative-Germany Pakistan Training Initiative (GPATI), Mr. Burns said it is a good example of strong cooperation among the enterprises, training providers and the government.

GPATI initiates technical and commercial training programmes in Pakistan, based on the famous German concept of the Dual Training. This concept is to be piloted in Pakistan in a modified form. The trainees would participate for training in the Training Institutes and On-the-Job Training in Partner Company’s i.e. BASF, BMW, Daimler, DHL, Linde, Lufthansa Cargo, Merck, METRO, Schenker and Siemens and Pakistani companies such as AUTOCOM, SUPERTECH and OJ Engineering.

Khawaja Muhammad Nauman, President EFP, in his welcome address said without the technical assistance of TVET Reform Support Programme, this award would have not been possible.

He greeted the companies participating and winning the awards. He said “I, on behalf of the entire Employers Federation of Pakistan, EFP, feel very proud by looking at the turnout of the companies for the first-ever awards. We pride ourselves on being pioneers of recognizing excellence in the field of skill development.

For more information, contact:
Employers’ Federation of Pakistan
2nd Floor, State Life Building No. 2
Wallace Road, Off. I.I. Chundrigar Road
Karachi, Pakistan.
Email info@efp.org.pk
Tell: +92.21.32411551