MULTAN City News

Call to fine-tune labour laws in line with ILO conventions
From Our Correspondent
MULTAN: The South Punjab Workers Federation Thursday called for fine tuning labour laws in line with the conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
Addressing a press conference at the Press Club, different organizations’ leaders including Munaza Hashmi advocate, Malik Muhammad Ikram Bhatti, Dilawar Abbas Siddique, Saeed Sajid Awan, Musawar Naqvi and Riaz Khakwani said as after the 18th Amendment the labour-related matters, including labour inspection laws, had become a provincial subject so it was necessary that all provinces should have uniform labour laws in line with the ILO conventions.
They said it was necessary for Pakistani traders to get benefit from free-market access given by the European Union (EU) under GSP-Plus scheme for an initial period of three years.
They said the government had failed to introduce new Labour Policy and bringing necessary changes in labour laws and it would badly hurt over 50 per cent export-oriented industry of the country.
They said the government and industry have to move in tandem to meet the ILO conventions.
However, they said the immediate concern of the government was related to labour inspection that was halted about six years ago on the demand of the industry, adding that the industry should now take it as investment if it wants to meet the ILO conventions and keep exporting.
The organisations’ leaders opposed privatisation of state-owned enterprises like OGDCL, Pak Steel Mills, Wapda, Discos, HBL and other entities.