All Pakistan Federation of Trade Union (APFTU) organised a national conference of labourers to discuss the issues facing the country. The issues were namely economic crises, worsening law and order situation, unemployment, increase in the prices of commodities, expenses of rulers, exceptional increase in defence expenses, implementation on unfriendly policies of the IMF and World Bank.
Terrorism, sectarian violence, non-implementation of labour laws, constitution of benches of Labour appellate tribunal at divisional head quarters, privatisation of government institutions, basic rights of labourers and violation of International Labour Organisation certified conventions, non-implementation of laws for agriculture labourers and informal organisations, behaviour towards female labourers especially in non-formal organisations, flourishing of contractor system, improvements in the agriculture sector, non-abolition of anti-labourer amendments in Punjab Industrial Relation Act (PIRA) 2010, privatisation of Pakistan Railway, restoration of technical allowance and work and increasing US interference in the country.
Representatives of trade unions and progressive political parties and lawyers participated in the conference while APFTU President, Syed Jawad Hussain Shah presided. Ashfaq Ahmed Khan Secretary General of APFTU and Shah Wali Rajput, Jawad Ali Khan Sardar Muhammad, Ashiq Bhutta and other speakers addressed the conference.
The speakers stressed upon the increasing unemployment, rising prices of everyday commodities and worsening law and order situation and said that the country is being weakened economically by selling its asset on cheap rates. They said that contrary to ILO certified conventions, labourer rights are being violated. Even the judiciary, which is protecting labourer rights, has also been declared controversial. They added that an example of this is National Industrial Relations Commissions Islamabad (NIRC) which has not only registered labourers at the national level but is also the one to take steps for the safety of their rights.
They further said that lapse is taking place regarding labourer rights due to handing over the ministries to the provinces, and nothing is happening on the government level to heal the rift. They also stressed upon a thrive in the contractor system at the government level and said that it is a state's responsibility to provide continuous and better employment to the public, adding that government has failed in fulfilling this basic responsibility.
The speakers, commenting on the increasing energy crises, said that the government, instead of taking steps to curb the crisis and making long-term policies, is implementing temporary and money making policies. The rental power project is also a part of this, which could not solve the energy crises but serve the aim of the rulers to make money. They asserted that labourers are against rental power project and stressed upon the rulers to control the energy crises on emergency basis.
They also expressed concerns about railway's dilapidated condition and alleged that rulers have ruined the system to purchase costly equipment, thus earn commission. They called upon the government to reduce expenses and spend this money on the welfare of public.
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