Punjab Minister for Labour and Manpower Raja Ashfaq Sarwar said that any further delay in the completion of Labour colony in Industrial Estate Phase-II Multan would not be tolerated and stern action would be taken. During the visit of Labour Complex of 992 flats being constructed with an estimated cost of Rs 2800 million, Khawaja Fareed Social Security Hospital, the minister said that the labour complexes were being constructed in all major cities of Punjab including Multan, Muzaffargarh. He said that the Multan Labour Complex would be consisted of boys and girls schools, community centre, sports ground and a masjid.
He said that the industrial workers are a precious asset to the country and the provincial government has a clear vision towards them. "The Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif wants to offer them a shelter to live in and good education to their children," he added. He took serious notice of delay in execution of the project and directed concerned authorities to launch an inquiry. The minister got highly angry after learning about delay in the project and said that the government had provided funds and those creating hurdles in way of its execution would be fired from their departments. He issued order for launching of double shift to accomplish the project in fixed time.
He said that the result of workers welfare schools stood above 85 per cent while over 300 children of industrial workers studied at different medical colleges. The minister also addressed the doctors of social security hospital and said that they would be sent to the teaching hospitals for refresher courses. Labourers & industrial workers will have Unified Registration Numbers (URNs) for easy access to their rights and monetary benefits soon. He said a high level meeting would be held on January 9 to discuss increase in EOBI pensions and provision of one-window facilities for collection of labour taxes from the industry. Social security record of workers is also being computerised and workers would get computerized cards after their unified registration. The Minister said he had ordered payment of marriage grants, death grants, talents scholarships for year 2011. He ordered to run Khawaja Ghulam Fareed Social Security hospital under the supervision of a management committee comprising representatives of MCCI, hospital management and the workers. He promised to upgrade workers welfare schools for boys and girls in Multan, Muzaffargarh and other district of Punjab. He said CNIC numbers of workers would serve as their Unified Registration Numbers (URNs). He said the department contacted NADRA for execution of the plan. He said New Labour Rules would be framed in the light of suggestions and proposals of the workers and employers; and Labour Department would play its role as a bridge between the employees and employers.
The Minister said government is actively considering establish an authority which would collect the workers' welfare fund, EOBI, Social Security and education cess, etc and entire record is being computerised to facilitate the workers. He said issues relating to social security will be discussed jointly at local level by the representatives of Chamber and Social Security officials and viable recommendations be forwarded for taking decisions at provincial level.