Sindh's labour minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah gave the assurance to industrialists on Wednesday that all reservations of industrialists regarding labour laws will be addressed. Speaking at a meeting of the SITE Association of Industry, he said that amendments made in these laws will be reviewed in consultation with the industrialists. He said that the Sindh government would try its best to facilitate the business community. He also assured industrialists present at the meeting that the development projects of the SITE would be included in budget allocations.
The minister, who also holds the transport portfolio, said that 600 new buses would be plied in Karachi for provision of better transport facilities to commuters. President of the SITE Association of Industry, Asad Nisar, stated that industries located in SITE area are facing labour-related problems.
He said the SITE Association has always remained in the governing body of SESSI but is no longer included in it. He requested its inclusion in the governing body. He said the SITE Association should also be included in the board of the EOBI and a notification to this effect should be issued. A notification should also be issued for inclusion of the Association in the Sindh Workers Welfare Board, he said. He called for the Labour Department's formation of a joint committee for inclusion of the SITE Association of Industry for resolving the problems affecting the industries. This proposed committee should hold monthly meetings to discuss the subject.
He called for yearly inspection of factories by the Labour Department. This inspection be combined, and not carried out separately for each factory, he suggested. Siraj Kasim Teli reiterated in detail about the issues pertaining to the labour-related laws as well as SESSI, EOBI, the Sindh Workers Welfare Board and the Karachi Circular Railway.
The former chairman of the SITE Association of Industry Zubair Motiwala, said the government should extend more support to the owners of Ali Enterprises, whose garment factory was burnt in Baldia Town in a fire which was the worst industrial accident in Pakistan, so that they can restart their business.