Like other parts of the globe, International Labour Day will be observed across the country including the provincial metropolis on Wednesday (today) to renew pledge for protecting rights of workers. Like the previous years, government departments, trade unions and civil society organisations will arrange workshops, seminars, conferences and discussions, besides holding rallies and walks to commemorate the historic struggle of Chicago labourers and express solidarity and make commitments for rights of workers.
All government and private organisations, educational institutions and markets will remain closed to observe Labour Day. In Lahore, Bonded Labour Liberation Front (BLLF) will arrange a seminar on "implementation on bonded labour laws'. After the conclusion of seminar, the participants will hold a rally in front of Lahore Press Club. Women Workers Help Line (WWHL) will organise a rally from Lahore Press Club to the Punjab Assembly to mark the day and to press for the demands of minimum wages of Rs 20,000 per month to women workers.
Jamat Islami will hold a workers Convention in the city where its leaders including Ameerul Azeem, Liaqat Baloch, will speak on the occasion. PPP Labour Bureau will arrange a rally from Lahore Railways Station to Lahore Press Club. PPP Labour Bureau Lahore President Malik Ehtasham-ul-Hassan, General Secretary Punjab Khalid Bokhari and Information Secretary Saleem Mughal will lead the rally.
All Pakistan Local Government Workers Federation will organise a convention at its office that will be followed by a rally to Sanda Road Crossing. In provincial metropolis, hundreds of workers of all age groups will gather to stage a peaceful rally to commemorate the Labour Day. They will hold banners and placards and march about one kilometer. More rallies can be expected over the course of the day. Government departments, trade unions, social organisations will arrange workshops, seminars, conferences and discussions to mark the Day.
Print, as well as electronics media organisation will arrange special edition and programmers to mark the day. Private and state owned channels will telecast special programmes to highlight the importance of the day. Pakistan Railway Union, Piam Union will also hold rallies in front of Lahore Railway Station where Sheikh Muhammad Anwar and Hafiz Salman But along with other leaders will deliver a speech, highlight the importance and significance of the Labour Day. They will also present charter of demands of the workers to the caretaker government. Federal as well as provincial governments have fixed the minimum wages of workers at Rs 7,000 per month but unfortunately they are forced to work at far less salary.