Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Friday directed the Ministry of Labour and Manpower to formulate a comprehensive labour policy with a clear vision and operational plan for exploiting human resource. The Prime Minister during his visit to the ministry here said that human resources must be developed and implemented through the labour policy in coming years.
Gilani was given a briefing on the performance and achievements of the Ministry of Labour. Gilani said that our population is estimated at 170 million, of which, 49 million constitutes labour force. He said almost half of the labour force is engaged in agriculture and the rest in industry and services sectors and only 10 percent labour force is estimated to be skilled.
Earlier in his address of welcome, the Minister for Labour and Manpower, Syed Khursheed Shah said that the ministry is implementing policies as enshrined in the manifesto of Pakistan Peoples Party for the welfare of labour in Pakistan. The ministry has prepared a plan for the welfare of labour community by extending medical care to the retired workers.
Thirty-four thousand additional workers will be registered for old-age pension and upgradation of existing 35 secondary schools to inter college level. Similarly, a plan is prepared for capacity building of Tevta institutions and labour market analysis unit funded by the European Commission (EC) and ILO, developing language-training courses for overseas workers and training according to demands of labour receiving countries.
Gilani said the minimum wage of unskilled worker has been increased from Rs 4600 to Rs 6000 per month while the minimum pension of workers increased from Rs 1500 to Rs 2000 per month. Similarly, the amount of marriage grant from Workers' Welfare Fund has been increased from Rs 50,000 to Rs 70,000 and the marriage grants to female workers and daughters of workers will now be provided to all eligible workers.
Also the amount of death grant has been increased from Rs 200,000 to Rs 300,000 and the maximum share of worker's profit from profit of the company raised from Rs 18,400 to Rs 24,000 per worker per year. He was informed that contract workers have now been made eligible for share in the company's profit. The Prime Minister was informed that the minimum and maximum amount of scholarship is increased from Rs 800 to Rs 1000 and Rs 1850 to Rs 3000 per month, respectively.
He was further informed that all the expenses of workers children admitted in any public/private universities, medical colleges, public schools run by federal/provincial governments paid by the Fund. The Social Security Scheme has been extended to the workers employed on wages upto Rs 10,000 per month and the benefits/facilities available under the WWF have been extended to the workers of commercial and service sectors.
Regarding bonded labour, the Prime Minister was informed that a fund of Rs 114 million is established for rehabilitation and welfare of bonded labour. Free Legal Aid Services units are providing assistance to bonded labour in Punjab and NWFP at a cost of Rs 6.728 million and so far direct relief has been extended to 346 bonded labour across the country.
He was informed that a housing colony of 75 houses in District Dadu at a cost of Rs 9.579 million has been completed and handed over to freed bonded labour. Gilani was also informed that 122 new licenses were issued to Overseas Employment Promoters to increase manpower export and the ministry has signed additional protocol with State of Qatar for export of manpower.
The MoUs were signed with M/s Bauer Kompressorn Middle East, UAE and National Training Bureau for skill upgradation of skilled workers and export of manpower to UAE. Opportunity for export of 2000 workers to Qatar and Bahrain is being explored. The Prime Minister also announced construction of colony for labour at Bahawalpur with all civic amenities including hospital, school and market.