Islamabad: Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry on Thursday said the government would prioritize amendments to existing labour laws and introduce new legislation to safeguard workers’ rights.
He was addressing a May Day event organised by the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), CDA Mazdoor Union, Pakistan Workers Federation and Rawalpindi/Islamabad Union of Journalists at the National Press Club.
The minister acknowledged concerns raised by labour representatives, stating that effective implementation of minimum wage laws remained a challenge. He said the government would consult stakeholders to introduce reforms ensuring legal protection and welfare of workers in line with the prime minister’s vision of expanding social security schemes.
Labour leaders, including PFUJ President Afzal Butt and CDA Mazdoor Union General Secretary Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin highlighted multiple issues faced by workers particularly in the Capital Development Authority (CDA).
They called for the determination of working hours for sanitation staff, provision of safety equipment and enforcement of occupational health standards. Speakers said that despite the existence of labour laws and International Labour Organization conventions, implementation remained weak, leading to unrest among workers.
They alleged that sanitation workers were subjected to forced labour, lacked safety measures and transport facilities and were often deprived of due compensation. The speakers also pointed to pending issues such as unpaid allowances, delays in promotions and lack of housing facilities for CDA employees.
They urged authorities to resolve these matters on an urgent basis and ensure protection of minority workers’ rights. Meanwhile, rallies, seminars and other events were organised across the city as International Labour Day was celebrated in Rawalpindi like other parts of the world.
A central rally was organised on Liaquat Road here. Labourers from the Municipal Corporation, Rawalpindi Waste Management, Wapda, Railways and other departments participated in the rally in large numbers.
Sardar Naseem and other speakers emphasised the need for immediate resolution of the problems of the labourers in their address, saying that the labourers have an important role in the development of the country.
The government should resolve the problems of the labourers on a priority basis. The government should provide relief to the labourers affected by inflation. Meanwhile, District Bar Rawalpindi President Tariq Mahmood Sajid Awan and Secretary Qamarul Haq Khan Niazi said in their statement regarding Labour Day that May Day is a day to remember the eternal sacrifices of the working class, tireless struggle and determination to achieve rights.
This day provides an opportunity to pay tribute to the hard work, perseverance and unforgettable role of labourers around the world in economic and social development. They said that labourers are the backbone of the economy of any country.
