KARACHI: PPP Sindh president Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, Sindh Minister for Information, Labour and Transport Syed Nasir Hussain Shah along with the representatives of Workers and Employees The Pakistan People’s Party-led provincial government on Saturday formally announced the first ever Tripartite Labour Policy for the province. Speaking on the occasion, Senior Minister Nisar Ahmed Khuhro said that the PPP was the only party in the country that was working to safeguard the rights of workers and raising voice for the oppressed people at all levels. “We did this even during the dark days of dictatorial rule.” Khuhro said that on February 10, 1972, Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto had made the first labour policy, introducing social protection mechanisms for workers, but unfortunately the policy’s implementation got halted following Bhutto’s martyrdom. “The present leadership of the party is following in Bhutto’s footsteps and are still sincere to his philosophy. That is why we have announced the firstever Sindh Tripartite Labour Policy 2018 today.” If we had labour-friendly laws in the country, we could have developed burgeoning industrial sector that could have contributed to peace and progress of the country—Nisar Khuhro further said that any country could progress only if its people were living a prosperous life. Otherwise, there was no hope for the country, he said. “Sindh is the only province in the country to have announced such a policy. We’re leading all other provinces in this respect. It was made possible through consensus,” he said. “We are sent to jails and confined during matial law administrations just because we dared to celebrate Labour Day. Democratic people have faced many hardships but they have continued their struggle for the oppressed people. If we had labour-friendly laws in the country, we could have developed burgeoning industrial sector that could have contributed to peace and progress of the country.” Khuhro congratulated the Labour Department and its team and urged them to ensure that the policy was implemented in its letter and spirit. “We acknowledged the efforts of all stakeholders including representatives of workers and employers who agreed at a comprehensive, strong and industrial-friendly labour policy draft. It would protect the rights of industrial, agricultural as well as home-based workers. These workers would now be allowed to make unions in industrial units. The policy will help curb gender discrimination as well.” Khuhro said that the next step would be to get the policy drafted approved from the provincial assembly so that it could be implemented without any delay. On the state of the Pakistan Steel Mills and Pakistan International Airlines, he condemned the administrators responsible for bringing down the two public-sector entities. Earlier, Sindh Minister for Labour Syed Nasir Shah highlighted salient features of the policy, saying that the substantial portion comprised 45 points. He said the party had announced the policy on the same day when Zulfikar Ali Bhutto announced the first ever national labour policy on in 1972. “We are continuing the tradition of the founder of our party.” ILO Country Director Angrid Kristen and representatives of workers – Habibuddin Junaidi, and Karamat Ali – and representatives of employers – Majyd Aziz, and Siraj Qasim Teli – also spoke on the occasion. They said the policy draft was an outcome of mutual consultation and was approved by all stakeholders during a six-month period. They offered full cooperation and assistance in future to further boost economic conditions of the country as well as the province. Saeed Ghani, Rashid Rabbani, Labour Secretary Abdur Rasheed Solangi, SESSI Commissioner Nasimul Ghani Sahto, Labour Director Khadim Bhutto, Addl .Secretary Bux Ali Mahar, Lal Bux Kalhoro, Liaquat Magsi, Zehra Khan, Farhat Parveen, and Dr Qaiser Bengali also attended the ceremony. Published in Daily Times, February 11th 2018.