Moot highlights labour rights, demands safe working conditions

LAHORE: Leaders at a labour conference agreed that consultation with the government, labourers, judiciary and academia is necessary to ensure safe working conditions in Pakistan.

Pakistan - Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (PES) Pakistan conducted its 4th National Labour Conference, bringing together key stakeholders to discuss the state of labour rights in Pakistan. The conference commenced with welcoming remarks by Felix Kolbitz, Country Director of FES Pakistan. Programme Adviser Abdullah Dayo outlined the objectives of the conference, setting the tone for a productive and insightful discussion. In the inaugural session, Khalid Mehmood, Executive Director of Labour Education Foundation, delivered a thought-provoking address on the labour movement in Pakistan. He highlighted that out of a 74.2 million labour force, only 1% of workers are organised in trade unions.

The session was chaired by Justice (Retd) Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui, Chairman, National Industrial Relations Commission (NIRC). The conference drew stakeholders from multiple sectors, including top labour judiciary, government departments, trade union leaders, and civil society organisations. The labour leaders, including Shams ur Rehman Swati of National Labour Federation (NLF), Chaudhry Yaseen of Pakistan Workers Federation (PWC), Khursheed Ahmed and Abdul Latif Nizamani of All Pakistan WAPDA Hydro Electric Workers Union, Sultan Lala of All Pakistan Labour Federation (APLF) discussed the need for practical strategies to strengthen the labour movement, ensure workplace fairness, and encourage social dialogue.

The labour leadership demanded from the government authorities to ensure the fair representation in different governing bodies at national and international level including the International Labour Conference (ILC) which will be held in Geneva, next month.

The leadership also agreed to form a national alliance to develop the strategies to address the challenges of unfair privatisation of public sector and growing inflation. In his concluding remarks, Justice (Retd) Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui highlighted the role of National Industrial Relations Commission (NIRC) in addressing the labour disputes. He emphasised the close connection between protecting workers’ rights and strengthening national economy.

He said the NIRC’s core aim is to support legal and economic safeguards for workers while encouraging industrial growth. He asked the labour leadership to revisit their own policies and identify the corrupt elements which are weakening the labour movement in Pakistan.