All Pakistan Mazdoor Action Committee, a body of different trade unions, Tuesday staged a protest demanding 100 per cent increase in their salaries and regularisation of contractual employees in the upcoming budget. The activists of different trade organisations staged a protest in front of National Press Club (NPC) under the banner of All Pakistan Mazdoor Ittehad Action Committee. They demanded the government to raise salaries of government employees by 100 per cent and regularise daily-wage and contract employees in the upcoming budget. They also demanded the government to stop privatisation of state institutions.
Minister of State for Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD), Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry speaking on the occasion said that the government has issued several orders regarding demands of trade unions. The federal cabinet has approved the regularisation of contract employees, he said, adding that a committee has been constituted for solution of the problems of labourers.
He assured the protesters that he will discuss problems of labour unions with PM Nawaz Sharif after his return to the country. "Salaries will definitely be increased but it will be officially announced in budget speech and its announcement at this forum is not appropriate," he said. Heads of different trade unions including Khursheed Ahmad, Zahoor Ahmad Awan, Chaudhry Yaseen, Liaqat Ali Sahi and Afzal But also spoke on the occasion.
On May 16, the representatives of over three dozen labour unions gathered at the NPC and formed All Pakistan Mazdoor Ittehad Action Committee to jointly struggle for rights of labourers and workers of public and private sectors, including the media industry.
The three-point agenda agreed upon by the leaders to be pursued as a common objective include increase in the minimum wages of labourers from Rs 16,000 to Rs 20,000, end to contract system and outsourcing of labourers in public sector organisations and an end to the privatisation in the public sector.