EOBI pensioners still awaiting raise

The PPP-led government has not increased Pension of Employees Old-Age Benefit Institution (EOBI) so far despite announcement made by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani in Labour Policy 2010. Pension holders of EOBI are waiting for increase for the last three months as they feel that there should be no delay after announcement by the Prime Minister.
According to Labour Policy 2010, "Pension of EOBI employees shall be increased at par with Government Servants." On the presentation and approval of the Labour Policy 2010 on May 1, the International Labour Day, Prime Minister Gilani in the opening remarks at the Special Cabinet meeting had said: "pensions under EOBI shall be enhanced with the enhancement in Government Servants Pension at the same ratio."
He said that the government desired to create an enabling environment for the application of universal principles of equality and social justice as well as constitutional and international rights and uplift of workers and labour force is the hallmark of its policy.
While talking to Business Recorder, Muhammad Azad, a pension holder of EOBI, said that the Prime Minister had announced to increase their pension but he (Azad) was waiting for last three months when increment would be made in his pension. He said that it was also announced in Labour Policy 2010 but the PPP-led government has not implemented it so far. He said that he inquired many times from the National Bank of Pakistan and the office of EOBI but they did not give any satisfactory answer. He said that the officials of the Bank told that they did not receive any notification pertaining to pensions of EOBI employees.
He said that the scheme was announced by Z A Bhutto under the Employees' Old-Age Benefit Act, 1976. He said that PPP leaders always raised their voice for the rights of workers but the present PPP-government should also pay attention to the rights of workers. Another pension holder, Muhammad Akbar, 70 years old, said that 3000 rupees pension is nominal while price hike in the country is increasing day by day. He said that due to this price hike, he could not pay electricity and gas bills.
He appealed President Asif Ali Zaradri and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to increase their pension according to the announcement in Labour Policy 2010. Officials of EOBI and Ministry of Human Resources and Development did not give any satisfactory response. They said that the Ministry of Labour and Manpower has been devolved to the provinces under 18th Amendment of the Constitution. They said that now EOBI is under new Ministry of Human Resources and Development and things are being settled. When questioned about the announcement to increase pension of EOBI employees in Labour Policy 2010 and the Prime Minister, they did not reply.