Labour leaders seek Rs50k as minimum wage
On the occasion of International Workers’ Day, also known as Labour Day, large rallies were organised by various labour organisations at the Rawalpindi city, cantt and railway station, in which the leaders paid rich tributes to the Chicago workers who sacrificed their lives for the sake of labour rights.
The tradition of Labour Day dates back to 19th century America. On May 1st, 1886 workers in Chicago organised a strike to demand an eight-hour workday.
On the occasion, the labour organisations jointly demanded fixing the minimum wage at Rs50,000 per month. The labour leaders disclosed that the minimum fixed salary was still not being implemented in the government institutions as the daily wage workers were being paid Rs15,000 to Rs17,000 remuneration.
In order to express solidarity with the labourers on International Workers’ Day, Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattha also participated in the labour rally and assured the workers that their rights will be fully protected.
On the other hand, many labourers holding shovels and paint brushes kept searching for work from dawn to dusk at Raja Bazaar, Fawara Chowk, Bani Chowk, Mochi Bazaar Chowk and City Saddar Road to earn their livelihood on International Workers’ Day. While some of them managed to get work others could not find work and had to return home empty-handed.
Enforcement of labour laws stressed
Meanwhile, the senior leader of Capital Development Authority (CDA) Mazdoor Union and General Secretary of Pakistan Workers Federation (PWF), Chaudhry Muhammad Yaseen, paid rich tributes to the labourers for their hard work and urged all government, non-government organisations (NGOs), trade unions and labour rights organisations to practically implement labour laws in the country.
Yaseen said that 1st May always reminds us of the sacrifices of the workers who laid down their lives while waging a relentless struggle for their rights.
“Our workers are the backbone of the country's economy and play their role in progress and development. Many of them face numerous challenges such as low wages, unsafe and unhealthy working conditions, lack of job security, and inadequate access to healthcare and social protection,” the PWF general secretary said in a statement.
He regretted that despite labour's contribution towards economic prosperity, the labourers were facing many issues like the unsafe working environment, unfair labour practices, poor wages, lack of job security, harassment of women at the workplace, long working hours and arbitrary dismissal.
He said our labour force is the backbone of our economy and it is highly essential to take practical steps for the protection of their rights by strictly enforcing the labour laws to discourage unfair labour practices.
He expressed hope that the federal and provincial governments would continue their endeavours to work for their welfare as well as to provide them with marketable skill sets.
He also urged the workers of the country to be aware of their due rights, adding, for the first time in the country, the labour policy was issued and the rights of trade unions were introduced by Prime Minister Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto on February 10, 1972.
Yaseen mentioned that Islamabad and Punjab governments had taken exemplary steps for the welfare and prosperity of home-based women. He also stressed the need for developing a social security system to cover such workers.
With additional input from APP
Published in The Express Tribune, May 2nd, 2023.