Trade unions federation, Labour wings of PML-N, People's Labour Bureau and Labour Party of Pakistan have rejected an increase in working hours from 8 to 12 hours a day and depriving the contract labour of overtime, describing it a negation of Charter of ILO.
They also rejected an increase in the working hours of women workers till 10.00 pm, demanding for introduction of new labour policy to safeguard the workers rights, amending the Industrial Relations Ordinance, 2002, and ending the contract system as Pakistan's industrial sector can only progress and contribute to economic growth of the country when the concerns and issues of formal and informal sector workers are well protected.
Trade union leaders, Malik Ghulam Abbas Langari, Taj Muhammad Sauz, Masud Ahmed Khan, Mehfooz Khan Shujaat, Iqbal Comrade, Suhail Javed, and Mansoor Karim Siyal while addressing a workers meeting here on Thursday, said they would have to wage a countrywide agitation against the amendments to labour laws and depriving the 20 million industrial workers of their lawful rights which were ensured by even UN.
They appealed to International Labour Organisation (ILO) to come forward for the help of Pakistani labourers who were facing severe economic stress, as their children are bare-footed and had no facility of education, health and residence, etc. They also alleged that the labour department was playing in the hands of employers, industrialists.
Shah Wali Rajput, Saeed Sajid Awan, Malik Bashir Ahmed Khan said the government failed to implement the minimum wages set by the government and mill-owners are still paying Rs 2,500 to Rs 3,000 per month and workers are being forced to serve for 10 to 12 hours a day while working condition for female workers were very hard and they have to serve for 12 hours on 50 percent wages.