Better Work operates at multiple levels, including with production enterprises, international brands, and sectoral and governmental stakeholders in several country programme contexts. The programme in Pakistan was established as a three-year pilot in 2022, currently operating within a one-year extension period in antici- pation of a second full project phase to begin later in 2026. As in other country contexts, Better Work Pakistan (BWP) follows an integrated approach that includes assessment, advisory, and train- ing sessions at the factory level, and engage- ment with industry stakeholders through sem- inars, workshops and one-on-one meetings to promote cross-industry sharing of best prac- tices and a culture of decent work. In addition, Better Work Pakistan collaborates closely with national constituents, including the fed- eral Government of Pakistan, represented by the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Hu- man Resource Development (MOPHRD), the Departments of Labour from both Sindh and Punjab provinces, and employers’ and workers’ organizations such as the Employers’ Federation of Pakistan (EFP) and the Pakistan United Workers’ Federation (PUWF), to inform their respective work to safeguard working conditions and promote sectoral and nation- al competitiveness. Tripartite governance also provides strategic guidance and oversight of the programme through participation in BWP’s Project Steering Committee (PSC). The programme also directly engages business partners, including international brands, ven- dors and trade associations in the sector.

This synthesis report, the first from Better Work in Pakistan, shares highlights of the programme’s key initial activities, achieve- ments, and challenges. The report discloses both aggregate results of the latest round of compliance assessments conducted by the programme in 2025 and key trends since its inception. Specifically, the report presents select trend analyses of a subset of firms that have completed three cycles of annual engagement with Better Work since 2022 to give a view of the trajectory of firms participating in the pro- gramme. The report also highlights how data and intelligence gained from factory-level en- gagement support the broader work of BWP to inform sector-wide actions, including inform- ing labour law reform processes. The result and discussion offered in this report provide a basis for reflection for sector stakeholders, and it is intended to inform strategic discus- sions as the programme continues to expand and support the industry.