Rallies across Sindh mark Labour Day

HYDERABAD: Among the problems highlighted on Labour Day was the lack of enforcement of the minimum wage that was announced by the present government when it came into power.

The day was marked in Sindh by rallies organised by different labour organisations. Justice (retired) Rasheed A Razvi, senators Safdar Abbasi and Mushahidullah Khan and leaders of various organisations addressed the rally organised by the Karachi Electric Supply Company’s union outside the Karachi Press Club, reported APP.

Rallies organised by the Sindh Baradri Alliance, Pakistan Worker Confederation, Sindh, and Peoples’ United Workers, Lyari, also ended at the press club. The Sindh Employees Social Security Institution will hold a seminar at their office on May 3. The biggest rally in Hyderabad, by the Water and Power Development Authority’s Hydroelectric Labour Union, started from Labour Hall and ended at the press club.

It was joined by other organisations as well, including the Pakistan Trade Organisation, Muttahida Labour Organisation, Municipal Workers Union and the Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child. Participants carried banners and placards and shouted slogans demanding worker rights. They pointed out that the country’s labour force remains deprived of the basic facilities of health and education.

Union leaders talked about the closure of factories and rising unemployment as a result of the worsening energy crisis. Labour Party Pakistan also organised a rally in Hyderabad, from Model School to the press club. The party leaders said that it was sad that the “so-called democratic government” increased the rates of petroleum products in response to the demands of the International Monetary Fund.

Meanwhile, a joint rally was organised by the Pakistan Trade Union Defence Campaign, All Pakistan Clerks Association, Lines Unity Staff Union of Pakistan Telecom Company Limited, Hyderabad Bangles Glass Industries, Mehran Mazdoor Union, Primary Teachers Association, Mehran Mazdoor Federation, Nursing Students Association, Youth Power Organisation and Naujawan Tehrik.

The participants marched from Hyder Chowk and to the Hyderabad Press Club. Meanwhile, PPI reported that rallies by unions were organised in Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allahyar, Kotri, Jamshoro, Matiari, Hala, Matli, Badin and other towns.