Daily Times

KARACHI: Labor leaders on Thursday urged political parties to include labors’ concerns in their election campaigns ahead of general elections 2018.

The leaders said it is heartening that yet another elected government in Pakistan has completed its tenure and the preparations are afoot to hold the general elections; however, it saddens that the political parties that had ruled in the Center and in provinces did not take any step to bring a visible improvement in the lives of workers
The labor leaders include Nasir Mansoor central deputy general secretary National Trade Union Federation (NTUF), Ghani Zaman NTUF General Secretary, Saira Feroze of Home-based Women Workers Federation, Saeeda Khatoon chairperson Association of Affectees of Baldia Factory Fire, Gul Rehman president NTUF Sindh chapter, human rights activist Qiraat Mirza, Mushtaq Ali Shan information secretary Sindh Agricultural General Workers Union CBA, Basit Jagirani, textile & garment general workers Union, Shahjee Rehman general secretary All Rerolling Mills General Workers Union & Riaz Abbasi of the NTUF were addressing a press conference at the Karachi Press Club (KPC).

“Presently, there is a labor force of more than 65 million in the country, which is almost 65percent of total number of the voters in Pakistan. In this backdrop it is worth seeing how the political parties think and behave on the problems and issues related to workers,” they said.

They said that more than 60 trade unions have decided to organize a Labors’ Right Movement (Mazdoor Huqooq Tahreek) and start gatherings in the localities and colonies of labors and later extend them to the other parts of the city.
the labor leaders termed the contract labor system a “cancer” for whole industrial sector saying “social security that is the basic right of workers is not given to them”.

“In the industrial disputes, the administration, police and rangers favor the industrialists and show anti-worker behavior. The workers who raise voice for their rights are harassed and many of them sent to jail. Sometimes, cases under the anti-terrorist laws are lodged against the workers who struggle for labor rights,” they said.

They said we think that only way to get resolved these issues is that the working class should start their own organized movement for safeguard their rights and resolving their collective issues. “Today it is the duty of the working class that till their alternative political leadership is developed they should give vote to only those candidates who accept the issues and problems of workers and make them a part of their election campaign,” said the labor leaders.

They also demanded to provide basic facilities of life like water, electricity and gas in workers’ localities.

“In factories and workplaces, the minimum wages of Rs15000 per month for unskilled labors should be ensured and their wages should be paid through banks,” they said.