GSP PLUS STATUS AND COMPLIANCE OF LABOR STANDARDS By: Dr. Hafiz A Pasha November 2014  Pakistan acquired the status of European Union’s Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) Plus which allows increased access of several eligible categories of Pakistani products through incentives of duty-free exports to EU markets from 1st January 2014. The scheme is conditional upon Pakistan to ensure ratification and compliance of twenty seven International Conventions on human and labour rights, governance, and environment; including eight core Labour Standards of International Labour Organization.  The study analyses the situation of Pakistan’s exports to EU markets, recent trends and explores potential increases in near and medium future terms. It investigates the state of labour market governance with reference to the core ILO Conventions and related labour laws regime in Pakistan.  The study emphasises that Pakistan’s potential increase of export under GSP-plus necessitates rectification of its foreign-exchange rates and energy shortages. Importantly the continuity of the GSP plus benefits hinges on the effective compliance of the ratified ILO Conventions. Current labour market governance in Pakistan remotely meets the terms stipulated by the core labour standards.  The provincial and national governments need to urgently undertake necessary legislations to remove discrepancies with the ratified ILO Conventions. The governments have to adopt necessary measures to strengthen institutional mechanisms to effectively address violation of workers’ rights and implement labour laws to arrest widening gaps in establishing decent work.