Mapping Labour Unions in Pakistan 2.3.1. Trade Unions and Tripartite Structures Documenting the experience of trade unions in tripartite composition, the following observations were made: 1. The committees are slow. Meetings are inconclusive and the government representatives do not come prepared. Moreover, the bureaucratic process further delays decision making. 2. Change in ministers and labour directors also impact the proceedings of the consultations. The meetings are either delayed or much time is lost in bringing the new leadership up to speed with the past proceedings. 3. There is also a complaint of non-seriousness on the part of the government while engaging labour unions. Labour leaders observe that the government follows a preexisting list of labour leaders for engaging in consultations, The list includes those the government considers “compliant”. However, it also suggests little effort on the part of the government, as many times they even invite people from the list who have passed away. 4. There is discontent with regard to who gets representation at the table. This could either be attributed to professional rivalry or the traditional non-consultative mechanism adopted by the government. In interviews, trade unions accused the government of legitimising yellow unions by giving them space on the table. 5. While all said and done, trade unions have a fair assessment of the positive side of engaging the government. They cite a more gender sensitized policy direction as one example that has come from trade unions participation in tripartite consultations on law and policymaking. 2.3.2. Partnership with Civil Society While civil society is broadly referred to as NGOs, it includes political parties, bar associations, media, academia and student unions, among others. Out of these, trade unions seek to work closely with NGOs and political parties. There has been much analysis on the evolution of NGOs in the last four decades, especially since the series of successive democratic and non­democratic rules have led NGOs to shift from mere rights advocates to service delivery partners. Nevertheless, trade unions and NGOs collaborate for street mobilisation, policy input, evidence-based research, advocacy on common themes and capacity building. In interviews, prominent non-governmental 31