The Labour Day was observed in different parts of the provincial metropolis to express solidarity with workers and labourers on Wednesday.
All Pakistan Trade Union Federation took out a rally from Hamdard Hall to Punjab Assembly to mark the Labour Day. A large number of workers of different trade unions including Railways Workers' Union, Hamdard Union, PHA Workers' Union, LDA Union, Molar and Fips, Shaheeb Habib Union, Pakistan Uniliver, Royal Leader, M Hafeez Industry, Model Town Society Union, Coca Cola and Pepsi Workers Union, domestic and bonded labour and people from different walks of life including women attended the procession. The rally led by APTUF leaders Sultan Khan, Aima Mahmood, Fazl Wahid, Munir Dogar, Nasir Mahmood, Salma Liaqat and others. The participants raised slogans in favour of their demands and vowed to continue struggle for the working class of the country.
They were holding banners and placards inscribed with different slogans, condemning the rising inflation, poverty and unemployment and government reluctance towards implementation of labour laws. They shouted slogans against forced labour and exploitation of women workers at workplaces.
Addressing the workers, APTUF General Secretary Aima Mahmood said the government lacked vision and planning to provide employment to youth and women and the rulers only made tall claims about it. The labour class, she said, were facing worst exploitation at work places due to wrong policies of the government. Saying that 73 percent labour in Pakistan is working in informal sector, Aima demanded social and legal protection mechanism for them. She demanded amendment in Factory Act 1934, and emphasized the need for participation of women in labour unions and their proper intake in decision making process. The government, she said, should avoid taking dictations from international lending agencies to run the economy instead it should consider the interest of poor and middle class and workers.
APTUF Chairman Sultan Khan stressed for the unity among different labour unions, asking them to put behind their minor differences for the great cause. He said every worker should be provided social security and workers welfare fund. He said the government should announce Rs 25, 000 as minimum wages of labourer.
APTUF President Fazl Wahid said the Railways development was not possible without the welfare of rail workers. But, he regretted, the government was not willing to address their demands and they were kept away from decision making process.
APTUF leaders Munir Dogar, Nasir Mahmood, Salma Liaqat and Safia Bibi also addressed the workers. They demanded raise in their salaries, implementation of labour laws, and labour inspection of industrial units as per ILO Convention, protection of labour rights as per GSP Plus rules, end to forced labour and representation of labour class in national and provincial assemblies.
Meanwhile, the Bonded Labour Liberation Front Pakistan staged a rally at The Mall. Thousands of brick kiln workers from all over Punjab participated in the rally.
A number of lawyers, students, trade unionists, and representatives of civil society organizations also participated in the rally. Syeda Ghulam Fatima, Secretary General, and some other office-bearers also spoke on the occasion.
Addressing the rally, Syeda Fatima said that political disruption and hyperinflation are thrusting poor brick kiln workers into the snare of bonded labor. In so called 'New Pakistan', the life for poor labourers is violent and miserable as usual on May Day 2019. "For country's work force, there is no way to get rid of inflation. Poor workers could not get social." On behalf of 4.5 million brick kiln workers, she demanded for 5 million homes for brick kiln workers out 50 million planned by the government.
Martha Praveen, President BLLF, drew the attention of the government to utilize all its resources and powers for the eradication of bonded labor lest workers should repeat the history of Chicago to stop socio-economic injustice.
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