Labour Day rallies pledge support to workers

MULTAN: Industrial workers and trade unionists Tuesday observed International Labour Day here and other south Punjab districts to express solidarity with the martyrs of Chicago, who laid down their lives for the cause of better working condition for labourers.

The workers of Wapda, Railway, MDA, Wasa, government employees and local industrial units organised a number of rallies. The rallies pledged to protect workers’ rights. The workers of National Federation, Punjab Teachers Union and PWD workers union took out a big rally from Multan Press Club. The labourers demanded the government to abolish draconian laws against workers, increase the wages and give protection of jobs.

All Pakistan Federation of Mazdoor Union organised a big rally in collaboration with the MDA, Wasa, AMRI and other trade unions. Pakistan Trade Union Defence Committee, Communist Party, Mehnatkash Rabita Committee, Mao People's Party, Railway Sampars Union, Paramedical Staff Union Pakistan, National Textile Leather Garments General Workers Federation, United Workers Movement, Local Banks Association and All Pakistan Commercial Staff Union also organised rallies to press the authorities for acceptance of their demands, including implementation on minimum wages of Rs6,000, eight hours working, prohibition of work by women after sunset and implementation on anti-child labour laws.

They said there were 55 million labour force in the country, of them 80 percent are male and 20 percent female.

More than 50 percent workforce is drawing less than two dollars daily. They said the Charter of ILO was being violated in connivance with the rulers because 60 percent industrialists were parliamentarians.

TOBA TEK SINGH: Various organisations took out rallies to observe the International Labour Day here on Tuesday. In this connection, activists of the Awami Workers Party, Textile, Powerloom and Garments Union Punjab chapter took out a rally from Waryam Road which later ended at Shahbaz Chowk. Speaking on the occasion, AWP district president Zubair Ch and other labour leaders paid rich tribute to the martyrs of Chicago for sacrificing their lives. They said that it was unfortunate that Pakistani workers were still forced to work more than eight hours, which was injustice.

They demanded Rs 25,000 per month as minimum wage for all labourers. The Bhatta Mazdoor Union also took out a rally from Gojra Road under the leadership of Pakistan Bhatta Mazdoor union vice-president Muhammad Shabbir.

The participants of the rally reached Shahbaz Chowk where PML-N MPA Mian Muhammad Rafiq also joined them. The MPA supported the demand of the kiln workers under which kiln owners were made bound to pay Rs 1,140 per 1,000 bricks to their workers. He also demanded set up a social security office at Toba to issue social security cards to the workers. Similarly, Irrigation employees’ leader Allah Bakhsh Sial addressed a meeting of the union activists and demanded 100 per cent increase in salaries of the labourers.

OKARA: The International Labour Day (ILD) was observed under the aegis of Shaheen Workers Union (SWU) here at Old Okara Textile Mills on Tuesday.

SWU general secretary M Iqbal, Rao M Jamil, Phanny Khan and Shahid Khan Lodhi have demanded the government to establish an industrial zone and bound the local industrialists to pay the monthly mandatory funds to the industrial labor in their factories and mills.

The only social security Kulsoom Hospital in the district was equipped with the latest facilities of surgery and its vacant posts of doctors and other paramedical staff should be filled at the earliest. A regular labour court should be established here while the workers welfare school for industrial labour class is also direly needed, they demanded.

They demanded the district administration to take notice into the unlawful and unjustified decision of the rich office-bearers of Markazi Anjuman-e-Taajran of the city which had forcibly closed the poor vendors stalls and carts on weekends.

HAFIZABAD: A large number of labourers of powerloom factories on Tuesday took out a rally under the auspices of the Powerlooms Labour Union to observe the International Labour Day here.

The rally started from Mohallah Mian Da Kot and ended at Fawara Chowk. Muhammad Amjad and Muzamil Ansari led the rally.

The labourers chanted slogans in favour of their demands and said that due to inflation, they were living a miserable life due to non-increase in their wages.

Every government promised to give a relief package to labourers but they were deprived of this so far, they added. The labourers demanded the government announce relief package for them.

NANKANA SAHIB: The Sikh community on Tuesday joined the rally of labourers taken out to observe the International Labour Day outside the Gurdawara Janamasthan here.

The Sikhs led by Sikh Sangat chairman Sardar Gopal Singh expressed solidarity with the labourers by joining their rally. Sardar Gopal Singh said that labourers also belonged to an honourable section of the society. He appealed to national and international institutions to provide due rights to the labourers.

PAKPATTAN: The labourers of grain and vegetable markets on Tuesday took out a rally on the International Labour Day here. The rally was taken out from Grain Market to Nagina Chowk. The labourers chanted slogans in support of their demands and demanded the government increase their wages.

LALAMUSA: Kiln workers took out a rally to observe the International Labour Day at Ganja Moron on Tuesday.

The participants of the rally blocked GT Road for a short time and later delivered speeches to throw light on the importance of the day. The participants also chanted slogans in support of their rights and demands.

GUJRANWALA: The International Labour Day was observed here on Tuesday. In this connection, various rallies were taken out to pay homage to Chicago martyrs. The labourers demanded increase in their salaries.