The Sindh government distributed the Benazir Mazdoor Card to labourers on Friday.
At a ceremony held at the Chief Minister's House, the provincial government launched the card under which labourers across Sindh would be entitled to avail benefits such as education, health and financial assistance under the Sindh Workers Welfare Fund Act 2014 and amendment 2018 provided they register themselves with the Sindh Employees Social Security Institution (SESSI) and pay contribution at the rate of six percent of the minimum wage fixed by the provincial government.
Addressing the ceremony, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said that the provincial labour department had organised the first Sindh Labour Tripartite Conference on December 11, 2017, wherein, one of the recommendations was to universalise social security in Sindh.
"Based on the recommendations the Sindh government announced [its] first Labour Policy in February 2018," said Shah, adding that social security would be extended to all workers and employees, including home-based workers, domestic workers and those who are self-employed.
Elaborating further on the Benazir Mazdoor Card, the CM said that SESSI had entered into an agreement with the National Database and Regulation Authority (NADRA) in September 2020 for the issuance of this card.
The CM reminded that labour was devolved to the provinces following the enactment of the 18th Amendment in 2010. He called for the immediate devolution of the Workers Welfare Fund and the Employees Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) to the provinces as well.
The CM also called for the federal government to transfer Sindh's due share of the fund and the EOBI and for the transfer of assets and property to the provincial government.
Besides, he urged the Centre to direct the Federal Board of Revenue to stop collection for the fund and instead to permit the Sindh government to do so.
Keeping in view the recommendations of the 2017 conference, the representation of employers and employees in all boards and the SESSI governing body was increased up to 40 per cent and the representation of the provincial government was decreased by 20 per cent, he added.
He further apprised that Industrial Tripartite Committees have been constituted to redress grievances of employers and workers.
Calling for registrations
Speaking on the occasion, Sindh Labour Minister Saeed Ghani said that the number of workers employed in Sindh's industrial units was significantly higher than the number of registered workers.
He stressed on the registration of all workers so they may benefit from the mazdoor card.
Earlier, Pakistan Peoples Party Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari distributed the card to a few labourers while others were invited to register for it.
Others who spoke on the occasion included Bilawal, industrialist Zubair Motiwala, labour leader Habibuddin Junaidi and Sindh Labour Secretary Abdul Rasheed Solangi.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 2nd, 2021.
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