The provincial government is going to make a comprehensive legislation in the provincial assembly for provision of social security and other necessary facilities to Home Based Workers (HBWs) during the current calendar year. The national policy in this regard is also expected to be finalised by the end of the year.
This was stated by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Social Welfare and Women Development, Sitara Ayaz while addressing a meeting of the stakeholders on National Policy for Home Based Workers (HBWs) held here Wednesday under the auspices of "Aurat Foundation" and "Home Net Pakistan", the non-government organisations working for the rights and development of women folk.
The eminent scholar and economist Dr Nabila Sehgal, Director Labour Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Zahoor Ahmad, Ms Laila of Home Net Pakistan and Ms Asima of Aurat Foundation highlighted the problems and difficulties being faced by the informal HBWs and presented proposals for effective measures to regulate their informal working for the livelihood.
Speaking on the occasion the Provincial Minister for Social Welfare and Women Development said that in absence of any proper laws or regulations to provide social protection to the informal workers the international conventions of CIDA and ILO can be invoked to protect the interests of HBWs. She, however, regretted that law and order situation of the province and inability of the government machinery was proved to be a major hurdle in effective implementation of such international commitments.
Sitara Ayaz expressed the hope that women members of the provincial assembly would act in an extra ordinary manner to get the women Social Protection Bill passed by the assembly adding that it will help resolve the social and economic issues of our women.
Expressing her concern over lack of capacity and ability of the government functionaries the provincial minister revealed that even statistical data of HBWs was not available with any government department. She said that Women Business Development Centres will be established in Peshawar, Swat, D.I.Khan and Abbottabad to provide an opportunity to business women to introduce and promote their products in a professional manner.
She said that newly constituted "Commission on Status of Women" has also been made fully functional which was working for development of women and protection of their rights. She said that women committees devising a strategy for at district level shall also be formed under the commission, which will help in drafting of the Women Social Protection Bill.
Responding to a question, Sitara Ayaz said that the provincial government was trying to mobilise its own available resource to provide maximum relief to the people of the province while the affairs pertaining to IMF and foreign debts are purely a federal subject.