Industry status to glass bangles, leather shoes units suggested

Glass bangles and leather shoes manufacturing units are likely to get the industry status in the next national employment policy. The Provincial Labour Department had sent a proposal to the Federal government that these Hyderabad-based units should be granted the status of an industry, sources told Business Recorder on Thursday.
They said that the glass bangles of Hyderabad were famous all over the world, but the factories were working as an informal sector. The leather shoes factories were manufacturing the export quality shoes and a majority of big shoe stores was selling the locally manufactured shoes with a tag of branded names, the sources revealed.
When contacted Labour Director Saeed Ahmed Awan confirmed that the department had sent a proposal to Islamabad, adding that the suggestion was under consideration with an expected amendment to the national employment policy.
He hoped that once the two units got an industry status, all stakeholders, including factory owners, labours and the government itself would be benefited.
"If these factories start working as an industry, the factory owners will have opportunity to market their products abroad," he said. Besides contributing huge amount to the national exchequer, it would also help enhance technical skills of the workers, he said.
He said that after becoming an industry, these factories would get loan from the banks, which would help them expand their businesses and bring their manufacturing equipment in accordance with the international standards. The government would also facilitate these factories in establishing units in the industrial zones, he said.
The Labour Department, he said, had always been active to enhance business activities in the country and facilitate the factory owners and workers to safeguard their economic rights.
To create awareness among the labour, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) had established an Occupational Hygiene and Safety Centre, which was legalised by the government of Pakistan, he said.
He said that the factory owners were not registering their units due to fears that they would have to pay huge taxes, and the Factory Act 1934 would allow trade union activities in the factories.