MQM, PPP MPAs fired up over wages bill
Provincial govt's desire to quickly pass the bill not well received by the opposition
PHOTO: FILE
KARACHI:
Sindh Assembly one again revived acrimony between the treasury and opposition members over the legislation of the Sindh Payment of Wages Bill, 2015. The lawmakers not only criticised each other's performance but also shouted slogans against each other and tore up the agenda copies.
The bill, which was referred to the standing committee around 11 months ago, came back to the assembly without any feedback or amendments apparently because it could not even hold a single meeting to review the proposed draft.
The uproar marred the proceedings presided over by deputy speaker Shehla Raza, when the opposition sought more time to review the bill as members were willing to move some amendments. The government was, however, adamant to pass the bill, given the delays.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf parliamentary leader Samar Ali Khan suggested the government take the federal government into confidence before passing this important law to avoid any conflict. Opposition leader Khawaja Izharul Hasan suggested writing a letter to the federal government.
Parliamentary minister Nisar Khuhro explained that this was a federal law and the Sindh government was just fulfilling its responsibility to pass the bill because it was a mandatory practice after the 18th Amendment.
"There is no need to seek the federal government's guidance because the provinces are independent to make their own laws and look after the labourers working in the province," he remarked.
The opposition members clarified their position and said they were not against the law but it should not be passed within mere minutes. "We have conveyed our grievances, now you have majority in the house to decide the fate of this bill," said Hasan, cautioning that it will be an injustice to impose the law without due consideration. "We are also well-wishers and sons of Sindh. It is not the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) but someone else who devastated Sindh," said Hasan.
Khuhro referred to the standing committee headed by MQM MPA Syed Khalid Ahmed and said, "This bill was sent to the committee 11 months ago but the chairperson did not call a single meeting and yet they [MQM members] are calling themselves 'sons of Sindh'."
Khuhro's words added fuel to the fire, as Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and MQM members came face to face and began shouting at each other. Deputy speaker Raza warned to suspend the proceedings but uproar continued unabated.
Khuhro also became emotional and criticised the MQM. "These people always pursue their specific agendas and are awaiting orders from someone else to discourage positive legislation. But they have now forgotten that there is provincial autonomy and their vested interest will not work here," he remarked. "The days are now gone when they used to shut down the city after a phone call."
After Khuhro's remarks tension prevailed in the house as MQM lawmakers gathered in front of the speaker's dais and exchanged heated words with PPP members. The deputy speaker failed to control the session and members from both the parties attempted to avert the dispute. Later, the speaker adjourned the session till today.
The law
The assembly passed the law to regulate the payment of wages to certain classes of persons employed in industries.
According to law, every employer, including contractors, shall be responsible for the payment of persons employed by him. "No wage period shall exceed one month," reads the law. It added that the employers of employees working on contract including railways or other industries will have to devise a schedule to pay employees in a week fortnightly or per month.
The law said that labour inspectors will examine factories and will register cases against those violating the law. These cases will be referred to labour courts already established in the province. "The law is already available, we just want to repeal the old law and pass the new one to regulate payment of wages," said Khuhro.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 31st, 2017.
Sindh Assembly one again revived acrimony between the treasury and opposition members over the legislation of the Sindh Payment of Wages Bill, 2015. The lawmakers not only criticised each other's performance but also shouted slogans against each other and tore up the agenda copies.
The bill, which was referred to the standing committee around 11 months ago, came back to the assembly without any feedback or amendments apparently because it could not even hold a single meeting to review the proposed draft.
The uproar marred the proceedings presided over by deputy speaker Shehla Raza, when the opposition sought more time to review the bill as members were willing to move some amendments. The government was, however, adamant to pass the bill, given the delays.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf parliamentary leader Samar Ali Khan suggested the government take the federal government into confidence before passing this important law to avoid any conflict. Opposition leader Khawaja Izharul Hasan suggested writing a letter to the federal government.
Parliamentary minister Nisar Khuhro explained that this was a federal law and the Sindh government was just fulfilling its responsibility to pass the bill because it was a mandatory practice after the 18th Amendment.
"There is no need to seek the federal government's guidance because the provinces are independent to make their own laws and look after the labourers working in the province," he remarked.
The opposition members clarified their position and said they were not against the law but it should not be passed within mere minutes. "We have conveyed our grievances, now you have majority in the house to decide the fate of this bill," said Hasan, cautioning that it will be an injustice to impose the law without due consideration. "We are also well-wishers and sons of Sindh. It is not the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) but someone else who devastated Sindh," said Hasan.
Khuhro referred to the standing committee headed by MQM MPA Syed Khalid Ahmed and said, "This bill was sent to the committee 11 months ago but the chairperson did not call a single meeting and yet they [MQM members] are calling themselves 'sons of Sindh'."
Khuhro's words added fuel to the fire, as Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and MQM members came face to face and began shouting at each other. Deputy speaker Raza warned to suspend the proceedings but uproar continued unabated.
Khuhro also became emotional and criticised the MQM. "These people always pursue their specific agendas and are awaiting orders from someone else to discourage positive legislation. But they have now forgotten that there is provincial autonomy and their vested interest will not work here," he remarked. "The days are now gone when they used to shut down the city after a phone call."
After Khuhro's remarks tension prevailed in the house as MQM lawmakers gathered in front of the speaker's dais and exchanged heated words with PPP members. The deputy speaker failed to control the session and members from both the parties attempted to avert the dispute. Later, the speaker adjourned the session till today.
The law
The assembly passed the law to regulate the payment of wages to certain classes of persons employed in industries.
According to law, every employer, including contractors, shall be responsible for the payment of persons employed by him. "No wage period shall exceed one month," reads the law. It added that the employers of employees working on contract including railways or other industries will have to devise a schedule to pay employees in a week fortnightly or per month.
The law said that labour inspectors will examine factories and will register cases against those violating the law. These cases will be referred to labour courts already established in the province. "The law is already available, we just want to repeal the old law and pass the new one to regulate payment of wages," said Khuhro.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 31st, 2017.