International Labour Day also called May Day is being observed on Sunday (today) in Pakistan like many other parts of the world, with a renewed pledge to safeguard the rights of workers and improve the socio-economic condition of the working class. To mark the day, trade unions, social and political organisations and other bodies will organise workshops, seminars, conferences, besides holding rallies to show solidarity with the labourers.
On May 01, 1886, Chicago labourers rendered their lives for the cause of working class and to put an end to exploitation. As a result of their valiant struggle, the rights of the working classes were accepted at international level. Newspapers will bring out special supplements to highlight the importance of the day, while radio and electronic media will present special programmes. Trade unions will hold rallies across the country to renew their pledge for continuing struggle against exploitation of working class.
All Pakistan Trade Unions Federation (APTUF) has planned to stage a rally in Lahore. In Lahore, workers will begin a procession in support of their demands from Bakhtiar Labour Hall under the leadership of Khurshid Ahmad. The Working Women's Organisation will also hold a rally against inflation, discrimination and violence against women. Political parties also plan to commemorate the day by organising seminars and discussions to highlight the significance of the day and various problems the working classes is currently facing.
The PML-N Labour Wing Punjab is also holding a function at Alhamra Hall. Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif is expected to be the chief guest. Among others, Birjees Tahir, Syed Mushtaq Hussein Shah and PML-N leaders will also speak on the occasion.
According to labour leaders in Pakistan, the situation is very difficult for the working class. They said that the condition of the workers is still miserable. They said that the issues like eight-hour duty timing, satisfactory remuneration, labour laws implementation still needed to be addressed by the government.
A trade union leader said that the workers all over the country, whether belonging to agriculture, weaving, garments, sports, leather, paper, printing and kiln were at the mercy of industrialists and owners. He said that official data on the labour force and child labour was not credible. According to him, the government had prevented the labour department from monitoring the enforcement of labour laws in factories, which was in violation of the ILO Convention of 1986.
Sources in the Labour Department told Business Recorder that the government has enhanced the efficiency of training institutes while practical steps were taken to provide education to the children of workers. "Revolutionary reforms have been introduced to eliminate child labour, establish labour colonies and increase the efficiency of the Punjab Employees Social Security institution (PESSI)," the sources added.
They said that the provincial government is taking steps to ensure provision of state-of-the-art health care facilities to the labourers and their children. To this end, the Labour Department is introducing Hospital Management Information System at a cost of Rs 42 million to provide specialised treatment/diagnostic facilities near workplace of labourers. Around Rs 100 million would be utilised for the establishment of labour market information and resource centre for the welfare of labour community, the sources added.