Labour rights should be extended to workers of informal sector

Islamabad
Labour rights of the formal sector workers should be extended to the workers of the informal sector.
The demand to this effect came forward in the resolution passed at the end of eighth Annual Rural Women Day Conference by Potohar Organisation of Development Advocacy (PODA). The conference was themed around rural women’s role in ‘Democracy, Development and Peace.’
Over 1,200 women from 107 districts gathered in the conference asked the government to acknowledge the status of women farmers and adopt policies and laws to address their needs and concerns.
They also demanded a national census to collect data on home based workers and one acre of free land for landless women farmers all over Pakistan besides enforcing measures to guarantee inheritance rights to women.
Women representing all regions of Pakistan participated in the conference including farmers, health workers, teachers, home based workers, lawyers, artisans, activists, teachers and community workers. Prominent rural women leaders Aqeela Naz (Khanewal), Veeru Kohlan (Hyderabad), Haji Bibi (Hunza Gojal), Suria Bano (lower Dir), Nazeeran Jamali (Nassrabad), Bushra Tabbasum (AJK), MNA Marvi Memon and chairperson Benazir Income Support Programme, Ambassador of Netherlands Jeannette Seppen, Minister for Women Development, Punjab Hameeda Waheed-ud Din, Secretary General, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) I A Rehman, Gender Expert, US Embassy Saba Ghouri, Ambassador of European Union in Pakistan Jean-Francois Cautain, Chairperson, NCSW Khawar Mumtaz and Chairperson PCSW-KPK Neelum Toru addressed the gathering.
After two days of deliberation, the rural women participants approved the following resolution demanding that all political parties should fulfill their manifesto promises to bring women in mainstream political process, and increase women’s share in local government system and direct election modalities in local government elections for women reserved seats should be adopted. They also recommended increasing the number of seats for women farmers.
The resolution states that women should have at least 33 per cent representation at all levels including local government, provincial and national level and all political parties should allocate at least 10 per cent party tickets to women for general seats at all level and appropriate funds should be allocated for their election campaign.
The resolution says that women should be considered as prime contributors of food security therefore women’s nutrition and food needs should be met to save them from malnutrition. It demands a comprehensive policy for food security and climate change should be formulated with women in key decision-making positions and should be shared with rural women.
Speaking on the occasion, Executive Director PODA and Member Punjab Commission on the Status of Women Sameena Nazir said rural women are the real unsung heroes of Pakistan economy, agriculture, art, culture and community development. She said we need role models of women leaders.
Benazir Income support Programme (BISP) Chairperson Marvi Memon said that women are playing an extensive role in agriculture and Pakistani economy and asked PODA to work with BISP to share the successes and struggle of rural women leaders.
Chief Executive Officer White Ribbon Campaign Omer Aftab said that men have a responsibility to stop violence against women. He shared that he has started the movement to engage men to stop violence against women and girls.
I. A. Rehman said the state should ensure the implementation of the pro-women laws that it legislates and the proper funding and functioning of the institutions that it sets up for protection of women. “The women present here are the potent force for change. The condition of Pakistan will not improve without the improvement in the condition of women, and the condition of women will not change till they themselves mobilise to improve the conditions of their lives,” he said.
Women Parliamentary Caucus (WPC) General Secretary, Shaista Pervez, said the fact that rural women are here from remote areas is testament that time is changing in their favor.