ILO conventions: 'proper implementation helps stop workers' exploitation'

The government must take effective measures to monitor the brick kilns and factories especially, and enforce existing labour laws in letter and in spirit to stop exploitation of workers' rights. The government must protect rights of home-based workers, domestic workers and maternity benefits through ratification and implementation of ILO conventions C-177, C-189 and C 183 respectively, and bring them under regulation to extend social and legal protection coverage to workers engaged in informal sector.
These demands were made by the trainers during a training workshop entitled "Enhancing Awareness on Women Rights and Labour Laws" which was held at Unity Hall in Faisalabad, and was joined by women workers from formal and informal sectors including; factory workers, lady health workers, brick-kiln workers, home-based workers and domestic workers. The event was hosted by the Association of Women for Awareness and Motivation (AWAM), implementing project of "Enhancing Women Workers' Awareness on their Rights & Labour Laws" under the Gender Equity Program (GEP) of Aurat Foundation. The purpose of the training workshop was to enhance awareness and knowledge of women workers on labour rights and related laws and policies particularly women-specific provisions, and improve their leadership capacity.
The general secretary of Muttahida Labour Federation, Hanif Ramay said, "A struggle for rights in a right direction always achieves its goals. Therefore, women workers must unite, organise themselves under a trade union or association, improve their knowledge and skills, and initiate struggle through building a strong unified voice for defence of their due rights." "The government must ensure the issuance of Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC), social security cards and EOBI cards for all workers by registering them with the government departments," he demanded.
The director of the AWAM, Nazia Sardar said, "Home-based workers and domestic workers are denied any form of legal protection, including a minimum wage guarantee, social security and EOBI benefits, for not having a status of a worker." "The home-based workers must be provided opportunities to market their goods without the involvement of middle men, and the processes for registration of unions in the informal sector must be simplified," she demanded.