May Day rallies call for better labour conditions
May Day resolve: Lady health workers demand better pay, amenities. PHOTO: FILE
A large number of labour unions organised rallies and conventions in the provincial capital on Monday to pay homage to the sacrifices and struggle of the workers and press the demands for their rights.
As the Labour Day started, supporters of the unions started gathering in various parts of the city. They chanted slogans against the government, exploitative policies and rising inflation.
Addressing them, the speakers condemned the oppressive policies resulting in the deterioration of their economic and social conditions by each passing day. They demanded increase in wages, provision of basic facilities.
The All Pakistan Workers Confederation hosted a congregation at the Bakhtiar Labor Hall on Nisbat Road. Pakistan Inqalabi Party organised a rally from Nasir Bagh on The Mall Road to the Assembly Hall Chowk, the Green Clean Labor Union of Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) from the PWD office on McLoed Road to Shaheen Complex on Egerton Road, National Workers Union and Awami Workers Party from McLoed Road, All Pakistan Trade Unions Federation at Shimla Pahari and Railway Workers Union from the Carriage Shop in Mughalpura to the Lahore Press Club.
Rail workers also gathered at the Railway Locomotive Shop and Diesel Engine Shed, Mazdoor Foundation marched from Regal Chowk to Assembly Chowk, factory workers from Walton Road to Faisal Chowk, All Pakistan Trade Union Federation from Guru Mangat Road to Press Club and All Pakistan Local Government Union on the Raiwind Road.
Most of the rallies culminated at Lahore Press Club where labour and trade union leaders addressed the participants. A university professor and labour rights activist, Dr Taimoor Rehman said it was unfortunate that inflation has crossed 45 per cent owing to policies imposed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and imperialist organisations.
He said it was condemnable that over 10 million people in Pakistan had fallen below the poverty line as per a World Bank report. He called for worker-friendly economic policies and increase in wages.
He also called for strict implementation of the laws regarding the payment of the minimum wages to all the workers throughout the country.
Addressing a seminar, Women in Struggle for Empowerment (WISE) executive director Bushra Khaliq said women workers contributed to the national economy in big way but their rights were being violated. She said incidents of violence against domestic workers, especially child workers, were common. Despite the domestic workers law in Punjab, they are not being registered with the Punjab Employees Social Security Institution (PESSI).
She demanded that the government register the domestic workers and issue them social security cards. Domestic Workers Union president Shenaz Ajmal and general secretary Shazia Saeed demanded enforcement of the Domestic Workers Act 2019 in letter and spirit and urged the labour department to register the union at the earliest.
Veteran labour union activist Niaz Khan called for increasing the minimum wage to Rs50,000 per month and regularisation of the daily wage and contract employees.
Punjab Governor Muhammad Balighur Rehman attended a ceremony held in connection with the day.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 2nd, 2023.