‘Govt to announce women’s package on March 8’

LAHORE

The civil society demands that the Punjab government should give a speedy approval for the Provincial Home Based Workers (HBWs) policy. Although the Women Empowerment Package 2012 included the Home Based Workers policy yet the Punjab government has failed to fullfil its commitment for protecting millions of Home Based Workers in the province. The chief minister Punjab must announce the pending HBWs policy .

This was demanded by the CSO representatives while addressing a joint press conference at the Lahore Press Club on Monday. 

Speaking on the occasion, Ume Laila Azhar, a representative of the HomeNet Pakistan, said the delay in the approval of the policy is creating frustration among the HBWs. 

Irfan Mufti from the SAP PK said this is unfortunate that the HBWs policy was not included in the list of agenda. 

The CSO  demanded that the HBWs should be brought under the social protection mechanism. He said the Punjab government has taken some good steps for providing protection to the women through various legislations and amendments but the issue and demands of the HBWs remained unresolved. 

Shaheena Kausar said the government is playing some delaying tactics for addressing the demands and needs of the workers.

Shahnaz Iqbal from Labour Education Foundation said the Punjab government will announce a Women Package on the International Women’s Day on 8th of March 2016.

The press conference was attended by a lager civil society organisation, HBWs and worker unions.