Promoting Labour Rights, Gender Equality and Freedom of Association in Pakistan’s Media

In the face of increasingly precarious and deteriorating work conditions for journalists and media industry in Pakistan, the need to protect, uphold and advocate for the rights of all journalists is nevermore important.

This project is led by the International Federation of Journalists in partnership with the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), the Women’s Media Centre and the Pakistan Council of Media Women. It aims to strengthen the capacity, confidence and strategic networking of journalists representative organisations and press clubs, as well as representatives from mainstream, freelance and entrepreneurial media to devise a national approach to a decent work agenda and gender equity for Pakistan’s media.

Key activities:

  • Review of labour laws and decent work in media report
  • Institutional evaluation and assessment of national and regional media unions and union strengthening program
  • Digital organising training module and online training resource
  • Establishment of “Women in Media” mentoring network

Location: Pakistan

Dates: February 2022 - January 2023

This project is funded by the National Endowment for Democracy

  • Organising Media Workers
  • Union Building and Strengthening
  • Women in Media
  • Journalist Training and Skills Development
  • Monitoring Media and Labour Rights
  • Lobbying and Law Reform
  • Alliance Building
  • Dual online and offline organizing for media workers.
  • Digital campaigns for labour rights awareness.
  • Resources provision through digital means.
  • Research on challenges facing media workers in Pakistan.
  • Strategic planning for union improvement and growth.
  • Constitutional reviews for robust, inclusive structures.
  • Support in union registration and funding for activities.
  • Regional networking for union collaboration and knowledge-sharing.
  • Leadership program for member’s growth and young leadership development.
  • Initiatives for women journalists to connect and advocate for gender equality.
  • Mapping exercises to identify barriers for women in media.
  • Development of targeted gender programs and dialogues.
  • Engagement with press clubs for gender inclusion.
  • Online engagements to amplify women journalists' voices on digital platforms.
  • Training programs on leadership, organizing, and gender empowerment for journalists.
  • Equipping journalists with skills to navigate the media landscape.
  • Providing mentoring opportunities for professional development.
  • Encourage & Support female journalists to play a key role in the media industry.
  • Conducting regular reviews of laws on press freedom and labour rights.
  • Producing labour bulletins on relevant developments.
  • Conducting research on labour rights issues in the Sindh region.
  • Publishing an annual press freedom report.
  • Conducting rapid reviews of Pakistani labour laws in collaboration with law experts and journalists' unions.
  • Conducting reviews of labour rights legislation for reform areas.
  • Advocating for policy changes to enhance media workers' conditions.
  • Engaging media stakeholders and policymakers for advocacy.
  • Focusing on Sindh: lobbying with freelance journalists and unions.
  • Engaging policymakers for meaningful reforms.
  • Collaboration with civil society organisations to form labour and gender media networks.
  • Aim to foster solidarity and collective action within the networks.
  • Strengthen advocacy efforts through building alliances.
  • Amplify the voices of media workers by partnering with civil society organisations.