Local trade unions have demanded of the federal government to distribute funds worth Rs 45 billion of the Workers Welfare Board (WWB) and assets worth Rs 380 billion of the Employees Old-age Benefit Institute (EOBI) among the provinces, under the recent constitutional amendments.
Syed Muhammad Kaswar Razi of Banks Employees Union, Colony Textile Union, Pak-Arab Fertilisers Union, Nauroze Associates, PTCL Workers Union's Naeem Qureshi, Railway Workers Union's Muhammad Iqbal, MDA's Union's Shah Wali Rajput said while addressing a seminar here on Monday that they express their dissatisfaction over some articles related to labourers and demanded of the government to repeal such articles from the constitution.
They said that after a keen review of the 18th Amendment they believed that various anti-labour articles passed in the 18th Amendment were not against the amendment on the whole and were in favour of provincial autonomy, but acts that were going to snatch labourers' rights could not be tolerated.
They said the public status of the mostly federal institutions would end after handing over of their authority and resources to the provinces. Meanwhile, the fate of the workers of these institutions was still undecided and they had been feeling insecure about their adjustment at the provincial level. They suggested the government review its constitutional amendments in favour of the labour class.
Razi said that under the 18th Amendment, "the only institute for the legal help of labourer against his employer, the National Industrial Relation Commission (NIRC) would be removed on June 30, 2011." "After the NIRC's elimination, all federal organisations registered under this institution would also automatically finish in which all labour organisations, federations, and unions are included," he added.
Ashfaq Ahmed Khan of workers Federation said it was the need of the hour that all labour organisations, federations, unions, non-government organisations and civil society organisations should focus on the issue and make united efforts in favour of the working class.