Rallies pay tribute to labour leaders of Chicago

Worker unions demand implementation of labour laws enshrined in the Constitution

PESHAWAR: Labour Day was observed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa like rest of the country. Labour unions and human rughts activists paid tribute to the sacrifices of labour leaders of Chicago who went to the gallows for demanding eight-hour working day in 1886.

Pakistan Railways Employees Prem Union Divisional President Mehar Ali, Bonded Labour Liberation Front K-P President Naeem Jan and All Pakistan Federation of Labour (Durrani Group) President Aurangzeb Durrani led the Labour Day Rally at Peshawar Press Club.

Participants said that labour unions took out a rally in Haymarket, Chicago on May 1, 1886 for labour rights, but police opened fire on it. It was the sacrifices of the workers of that movement that forced in place an eight-hour working day. The speakers said that prior to labour movement in the US, labourers were forced to work up to 18 hours on measly wages.

Speakers at the gathering said that state of labourers was not satisfactory even today. Inflation is increasing at a faster rate than the wages of workers. Besides, exploitation of working class continues unchecked. They said that like previous government, Pakistan-Tehreek-e-Insaaf too has disappointed labourers.

The PTI government failed to protest the rights of working class, labour leaders said demanding implementation of the labour laws enshrined in the Constitution.

Like other parts of the country, International Labour Day was observed across the province highlighting sacrifices offered by Chicago labourers for the cause of working class.Rallies and seminars were held in different cities of K-P wherein participants paid glowing tributes to those laborers who laid down their lives to secure the rights of workers.

In Peshawar a big rally was carried out from Hashtnagri to Chowk Yadgaar and participated by traders' community, labourer unions and locals. Holding placards and banners participants expressed solidarity with labour class and demanded given them due rights and chances to improve their living standard.

District Development Advisory Committee Swat Chairman Fazal Hakeem also addressed a ceremony held in Rahimabad Swat assuring labourers resolution of their problems. The ceremony among others was attended by Mutahidda Labor Union Swat, All Malakand Buildings Painters Union and civil society organizations.

National Labor Federation DI Khan, Dera Qingqi Association and Peoples Labor Bureau Dera also organized a rally to commemorate the sacrifices of labours in Chicago. The rally was started from Town Hall and culminated at 15 Chowk.

The rally participants were holding banners and placards inscribed with slogans and demanded job security and incentives for labour class.

Similarly, people of Dir Lower also staged walk and paid tribute to Chicago labourers for their sacrifices. They also demanded provision of basic amenities of life including health, education and clean drinking water to workers' families.

Pakistan Workers Federation District Swabi also organized a rally on International Labourer Day that started from Town Municipal Hall and culminated at Haqqai Public Library. A similar rally was taken out in Gadoon Amazai by representative organization of labour, Gadoon Labour Federation.

Governor’s message

K-P Governor Shah Farman in his message on the World Labour Day appealed to people to do their best for economic uplift of the country and maintain complete unity in their ranks.

"The observance of May 1 - commonly known as the international workers day is a conscious effort of the world community to generate realisation about importance of labour; securing rights of labourers and to educate the societies on importance of dignity of work," he added.

“Being Muslims,” he said, “we are religiously bound to pay the returns of labour to the respective workers, even before their sweat is dried up.”

with additional input by app

Published in The Express Tribune, May 2^nd, 2019.