Daily Times

KARACHI: Labour Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah has said that the government had won the hearts of labourers and workers by giving them their due rights including maximum participation in decision making bodies, under the new labour policy.

He made these comments while holding a press conference along with representatives of workers including Habibuddin Junaidi, Karamat Ali as well as representatives of employers including Majid Aziz, Labour Secretary Abdur Rasheed Solangi and SESSI Commissioner Dr Nasimul Ghani Sahto and others at 7th Floor New Sindh Secretariat.

The labour minister said that the government had also given rights to labourers for protection of their employments and privileges as laid down in the new labour policy.

“Under the directions of PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the government has transferred its own powers to the labourers, which will make them more prosperous and strengthen their position at workplaces.”

Shah said that the New Labour Policy was formed in consultation with representatives of all labour organisations and, therefore, it included employers’ feedback as well. He said that government’s participation had been reduced from 40% to 20% while labourers participation increased upto 40%. “Legislation was also made to protect the rights of deceased labourers and their families according to recommendations made by labour representatives. All legislation were made on the directions of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to safeguard the rights of labourers. To compensate the Baldia Factory workers, all issues have been settled on a priority. Board has been constituted to resolve all issues of workers under the New Labour Policy, now no compromise will be made on the issue. If any legislation will be required, it will be made accordingly.”

Shah further said that the government organisations would play their due role to implement the new labour policy. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is following Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto’s policy and is acting in accordance with his grand father’s vision.

A representative of employers, Majid Aziz said that under ILO 144, the government had taken decisions after properly consulting all stakeholders.

He underlined the need to re-constitute the Social Security Board. He said that the New Labour Policy had been devised for the benefit of Labourers, not for anyone’s vested interests. He further said that the New Labour Policy would be sent to other provinces to formulate and adopt the same immediately.

A representative of labourers, Habibuddin Junaidi said that steps were being taken to implement the New labour Policy. “The government has transferred its powers to the labourer’s baord. This is a historical milestone. The PPP has fulfilled its promise to formulate such a policy.” He further said that after the New Labour Policy, K-Electric and other institutions would hopefully be able to resolve the issues of labourers.

Karamat Ali of PILER said that it was important that the New Labour Policy was implemented in letter and spirit. He hoped that the government will take steps to implement the policy. He said that though unregistered workers were in high numbers in the country but still only 60,000 such workers were registered under SESSI. He further said that now the journalists could also register themselves with the Social Workers Fund.

Published in Daily Times, April 23^rd 2018.