PPP government always supported cause of labour: Kaira

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira has said the present Government is the people's government and Pakistan People's Party has always supported the cause of labour right from its inception.
In his message on the International Labour Day falling on May 1,the minister felicitated the labour community saying that this historic day reminds us the valiant and heroic struggle of the Chicago workers who had laid their lives for the collective rights.
He also said that "we also honour the labour struggles of the past as well as those who in recent times have risked their lives and stood up to powerful forces unwilling to listen to the organised voice of workers."
The minister said that these sacrifices were so great and momentous that they have left an indelible mark on the history of mankind and these still continue to be a source of inspiration for the downtrodden and oppressed workers. "This is the day to revisit the struggles of the working class and commemorate its achievements, "he said.
The minister said that the day provided an impetus to the struggle for rights of workers and thus ensured that the iniquitous system of their exploitation will no more exist. "The observance of May Day was formally instituted in Pakistan in 1972 soon after the first PPP government came into power," he said.
Qamar Zaman Kaira said that "the PPP Government is in the lead again in promoting the rights of workers and has repealed the Industrial relations Ordinance (2002) that had curbed the union activities and a new law Industrial Relations Act, 2008 has been promulgated and this new law will be amended/repealed after consultations with all the stakeholders by April 2010."
He said that minimum wages for unskilled wworkers have been raised from Rs 4600 to Rs 6000 and Employees Old Age Benefits Act has been amended and now it is applicable to any industry or establishment employing five or more persons and by this it has increased the scope of the law and now more workers can benefit from the mandatory social security system especially in the wake of financial and economic crises when more and more people are losing jobs.