President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday expressed the government’s resolve to bolster labourers’ welfare and safeguard their rights, state-run Radio Pakistan reported.
As the world commemorated International Labour Day, the president and the premier issued separate messages to mark the occasion.
President Zardari urged Pakistani employers to adopt fair wage practices, take steps for worker safety and health, and ensure the provision of necessary training and protective equipment to labourers working in hazardous environments.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to uphold the dignity of labourers and paid tribute to their historic struggle, the report added.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif honoured the “immense sacrifices of workers who laid their lives while waging a relentless struggle for their rights”.
In his statement, the premier said he would soon convene the inaugural National Tripartite Labour Conference with a special focus on safety and health.
Separately, Senate Chairman Yusuf Raza Gilani said the government fully acknowledged the “significant role” of labourers and workers in national progress, Radio Pakistan stated.
He noted that May 1 was celebrated worldwide as a symbol of the “protection of labour rights and the commitment to uphold them”.
The Senate chairman underscored the government’s efforts to improve conditions for workers, focusing on the implementation of labour laws and the protection of worker rights.
Faced with high inflation and bleak economic prospects nationally, the workers of Pakistan have little to celebrate this Labour Day. Trade unions have historically not been strong in Pakistan, and today the number of unionised workers is negligible.
Far too many labourers work in hazardous conditions, and lack the relevant safety nets should accidents occur. While pressure from international unions and activists has helped change the situation for the better in the textile industry, other sectors still lack in the area.
More to follow