The workers staged a big rally on the occasion of the International Workers Day here on Sunday and demanded justice be done to the labourers and workers. They observed that the working condition in many factories and workplaces in Pakistan were even worse than the factories of the nineteenth century.
National Trade Union Federation (NTUF) and Home-based Women Workers Federation (HBWWF) staged a big rally in Karachi that marched from the Empress Market to the Karachi Press Club (KPC). It was led by NTUF President Muhammad Rafiq Baloch and HBWWF general secretary Zahra Khan. A large number of workers including women workers belonging to different industries, carrying red flags and banners, participated in the rally. They raised slogans in favour of their demands, displaying placards inscribed with their demands and rich tributes to the martyrs of the Labour Day. At the KPC, the rally turned into a big public gathering.
Speaking on the occasion, the speakers said that even after 130 years since the martyrdom of the workers of Chicago, the capitalists had not changed their anti-labour attitude. They said working conditions in factories, industries and workplaces were far worse than the working conditions in the nineteenth century. They proposed that to get rid of this situation the only solution was the victory of labour over capital and for this the workers of whole world were giving birth to a new brave resistance movement. They said that the workers of Pakistan pledged that they would organise their struggle to rid the of the brutal dominance of industrialists and feudal lords, and establish a government of workers in the country.
"Rights of labour class have been virtually omitted from the agenda of all political and religious parties," said NTUF president Muhammad Rafiq Baloch adding that these parties remember the working class when they need manpower for their rallies and processions.
He said that these anti-worker forces had divided the labourers on religious, sectarian and ethnic lines to control democracy. He said that to make this controlled democracy a real democracy the workers would have to struggle themselves; otherwise, the opportunist and dictatorial forces would push the country towards more darkness.
"These anti-workers forces with the assistance of international capitalism have occupied the national resources and put the independence of the region at the stake," he said.
NTUF deputy general secretary Nasir Mansoor said that everything from the right of making unions at workplace, to the fundamental rights such as social security was being violated by the rulers.
"When the workers raise voice for these rights they are declared terrorists. The lives of workers especially women workers in farms, factories and workplaces have been made bitter," he said adding that the state organisations including labour-related departments, courts, police, administration and assemblies had not only been playing the role of silent spectator but also covertly supporting these crimes.
HBWWF general secretary Zahra Khan said whole country was put on the fire of religious extremism. She said the biggest city of workers, Karachi, had been given to ethnic terrorists, land mafia and fanatic elements, who enjoyed full patronage of industrial, financial and trade capital.
"This conspiracy has dealt a fatal blow to the pro-workers traditions of this city. Not only the cities and towns but rural areas also have been handed over to the feudal lords, where they have got a free hand to play with lives and honour of Haris," she said adding that in the name of privatisation, vital sectors of education, healthcare and public transport had been handed over to profit-hungry capitalists and businessmen who had hit hard the whole society.
She said that there were about 60 million workers in Pakistan and out of them 80% belonged to informal sector, majority of them home-based women workers who had no identity as a worker.
The speakers said now time was ripe that working class should enliven the traditions of the workers of Chicago and organise them as an alternative political force. They said different movements of workers and peasants have already been showing this spirit. They said the struggle and movements of farmers of Okara, workers of the PIA, heirs of Ali Enterprises fire martyrs, home-based women workers, Haris, and power loom workers of Faisalabad were some of the shining examples in this regard. They expressed hope that this movement of workers would get more power and organise itself also on political front and establish a labour government in Pakistan by eliminating dominance of imperialism, capitalism and feudal lords.
The rally demanded that the minimum wages should be fixed at Rs 25000 per month. All workers should be issued written appointment letters at the time of their recruitment. Health and safety at workplaces should be ensured. Labour inspection system for factories and industries should be revived.
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