Daily Times

LAHORE: A number of rallies, seminars, discussions, torchbearer rallies and cake cutting ceremonies were witnessed in connection to mark the World Labour Day also known as May Day in the provincial metropolis on Tuesday.

The events were arranged by political parties, labour unions, traders and civil society organisations. The Lahore Press Club remained the central point of protests. Schools, markets and other originations were closed marking May Day.

The Punjab Union of Journalists, Punjab chapter of Pakistan People’s Party, National Student Federation, People’s Democratic Front and other organisations’ officials and representatives united with the participants in protesting in front of the club. They said that the government should ensure the implementation of laws, policies and rights related to workers. They also criticised the Punjab government for doing nothing practially for the working class during its governance. They demanded Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz to address the workers issues in their speeches and public gatherings instead of complaining.

Amir Jamat-e-Islami Sirajul Haq also visited the Railway Washing Line and addressed the gathering of labourers. Labour wing of Pakistan Muslim League Punjab also arranged a ceremony at Muslim League House.

Various unions and working class under the banner of the All Pakistan Trade Union Federation (APTUF) carried out procession which started from Hamdard Hall, Lytton Road and ended in front of the Lahore High Court building.

The participants of the procession were holding banners and placards on which different slogans in favour of workers and their demands were inscribed. A good number of domestic workers were also part of the gathering. They raised questions and chanted slogans against inflation, forced labour, unemployment, poverty, contract labour system and exploitation of workers’ rights and called for bringing reforms.

APTUF General Secretary Aima Mahmood and other labour leaders including Sultan Khan, Fazal-e-Wahid, Salma Liaquat, Nasir Mahmood and Munir Dogar addressed the rally.

Aima Mahmood who also heads the Working Women Organisation criticised the government for not addressing the issues of labourers, farmers, unemployed youth and women workers. She highlighted the plight of female employees at workplaces. She said that the government failed to curb child labour despite tall claims as a large number of children could be seen working in factories, bakery units, brick kilns and other places.

According to her, both government and opposition were equally responsible for the problems of labourers. She also blamed political parties for not highlighting labourers and farmers’ issues in policy marking process. Both sectors, she said, make around 80 percent of the country’s population. Mahmood, on occasion, called for the unity among workers.

Published in Daily Times, May 2^nd 2018.