Pledge to protect workers’ rights renewed

Labour Day

MULTAN: Labour Day was observed on Sunday across the South Punjab, including Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Muzaffargarh, Bahawalpur and Rahimyar Khan with a renewed pledge for protecting workers’ rights.

In order to highlight significance of the day and workers’ rights, different political and labour organisations‚ particularly the labour wings of political parties and professional bodies, including Wapda Hydroelectric Central Labour Union, Railway Workers Union, Akhbar Farosh Union and brick-kiln workers’ union organised programmes.

Rights violation and exploitation of labourers, particularly kiln workers are unbearable and to stop this evil strong measures are required. Labourers have vital role in the development of country.

Non-payment of government sanctioned wages to kiln workers, bonded labour, violence and fake cases are some serious issues and required proper attention of the government. There is a question mark on the performance of the government that laws in favour of labour rights exist but still exploitation of kiln workers is in practice, Justice and Peace Commission (JPC) Executive Secretary Hyacinth Peter stated this during a rally.

Mr. Peter paid huge tribute to martyrs of Chicago and said Labour Day had united the world workers for their rights and justice. On this occasion, labourers were holding placards and banners in favour of their rights and chanted pro-workers slogans.          

Political parties’ representatives and labour leaders said workforce was essential to the production cycle and national development. It is, indeed, the driving force behind any industrial and agriculture progress.

All claims of development will remain meaningless until the vulnerable working class is emancipated and empowered. That is why the labour welfare is a priority matter for the government, they added. Muslim League Labour Wing leaders, including Shahid Mukhtar Lodhi, Munir Langah, Begum Shaheen Shafiq MNA and Khaula Amjad Sheikh MPA said during the past few years a number of practical steps had been taken for improving the condition of the workers. These included reinstatement of sacked employees, regularisation of contract and daily wagers, empowering the workers to seek legal remedies against any unlawful dismissals, restoration of trade union activities, increase in minimum pension, promulgation of Industrial Relations Act, 2012 and making workers and employees share-holders in the state-run entities. However, the struggle for workers’ rights is far from over. We still have to go a long way in addressing issues relating to exploitation of workers, child and forced labour, and representation of workers in legislative assemblies etc. A group of working women lit the candle vigils to pay homage to martyrs of Chicago.