Bodies under bonded labour law remained dormant for 13 years, Sindh Assembly told

The Bonded Labour System Abolition Act 1992 continues to lie dormant for more than 13 years, and vigilance committees set up under this law in 12 districts out of 23 districts have failed to take up cases of violation under this law.
Provincial Planning and Development Minister Shoaib Bukhari, replying to questions, on behalf of labour minister, during Question Hour told Sindh Assembly on Wednesday that efforts were being made to make the vigilance committees effective and set up similar committees in other districts.
He said that prior to introduction of the new local government system, where city nazims have replaced deputy commissioners, who were the competent authority to set up vigilance committees, Nazims are now being asked to take action.
He said the provincial labour department could only persuade nazims to constitute committees but to force them to comply with the advice of the provincial government would not be possible.
Replying to a question from Humaira Alwani, he said that vigilance committees under the Act had been constituted in 12 districts but their meetings could be held in three districts only viz, Hyderabad, Khairpur and Mirpurkhas. "Others are being reminded regularly to set up committees and hold meetings, but so far the progress is slow," he added.
The minister said that in Karachi such committees had not been set up, whereas they should have been in place.
He said Karachi despite being an industrial city still did not have problem of bonded labour, and hastened to add that this fact did not justify the non-existence of vigilance committees.
On a question from Ayaz Soomro he said that Sindh Employees Social Security Institution has no health outlets in Larkana and Shahdadkot. Indoor medical facilities are, however, being provided to workers of industrial areas of Larkana and Shahdadkot by referring them to taluka hospital or to civil hospital of the area.
KVSS SITE Hospital Karachi. Moreover, Sessi has its dispensary in Larkana and a retainer doctor at Shahdatkot to provide medical facilities to the workers of the above industrial areas.
In response to other questions the minister gave details of expenditure, compensation, registered labours and other facilities that have been created to provide help to registered workers.
The minister said that measures were being adopted to provide maximum help to all registered workers.
He said that cases of compensation were decided without involving in complicated procedures.
The question hour came to an end while more than half of the questions were yet to be replied.
Shazia Marri, Murad Ali Shah, Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, Qaim Ali Shah, Murad Ali Shah, Shama Mithani, Jamil, Mahreen Bhutto, and Farheen Mughal took part in discussions on various issues relating to labour department.
Later, on a point of order from Jamil regarding alleged remarks of Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghula Rahim calling 'Makhdoom' hypocrite, Irrigation Minister Nadir Akmal Leghari said that if the CM had said so the record might be checked and the remarks should be expunged.
Leader of opposition Nisar Ahmed Khuhro and Murad Ali Shah condemned use of such remarks and asked the chairman, Muhammad Hussein, to expunge these remarks, otherwise the treasury would have to face its repercussions.
Hussein in his ruling said that the record would be checked and if such a remark was found it would be expunged.
Speaker Muzaffar Hussain Shah chaired the entire session except for a brief period. The assembly would meet again on Thursday at 10 am.