During the session on Monday, the assembly unanimously passed the Industrial Relations (Revival and Amended) Bill, 2010, by reviving the Industrial Relations Act, 2008. It also passed the Sindh Wholesale and Agriculture Produce Markets (Development and Regulation) Bill, 2010.
The bill has been passed in the interest of the labour class, said Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah on Monday. The session started at 12:20 pm with Speaker Nisar Ahmed Khuhro in the chair
Shah said that the Industrial Relations Ordinance (IRO) 2002, introduced during Musharraf’s regime, was a “black dot” on the face of democracy and the present government repelled it by bringing the IRO 2008 that expired in April 30 this year.
Until the passing of the bill today, there was no law dealing with matters of the labour class, he said. “We will make further positive amendments if needed,” he added.
Sindh Minister for Labour Ameer Nawab said that the IRA will take effect from May 1 of this year. Under the IRO 1969, trade unions had complete independence to make their unions at the local unit level but after the IRO 2002, there could be only one union at the centralised level, said Nawab.
He added that in the 1969 ordinance, labour courts had the power to restore sacked workers but when the ordinance was amended in 2002, the courts only had the power to pay 30-days’ salaries to employees. Even trade unions in Employees Old-age Benefit Institution and Work Welfare Board were allowed unions according to the 1969 ordinance but they were banned later in 2002.
Many members of the assembly also discussed the wholesale and agriculture produce markets bill.
Consumers have to pay five to 10 per cent more for the produce because of middlemen in the markets while farmers are also compelled to sell their products at throwaway prices, he said, adding that, following this bill, a competitive and transparent wholesale agriculture produce markets will be established in Sindh.
Leader of the Opposition Jam Madad Ali appreciated the idea and said that it should be implemented in letter and spirit.
Meanwhile, a report on the Sindh Tenancy Act was presented in the house by Bachal Shah, Chairman Standing Committee on Law and Parliamentary Affairs and Human Rights.
Journalists against minister
Pakistan People’s Party’s Sharjeel Inam Memon mentioned that a few journalists chanted slogans against the senior education minister following his statement against a local television channel. The speaker formed a three-member committee, including the home minister, leader of the opposition and minister for local bodies, Agha Siraj Durrani to talk to journalists and the association of owners of TV channels.
Thar Coal Project
The chief minister said that the government has decided to enter a joint venture with the Engro group to develop coal mining in block two of the Thar coal fields. He added that there are a total of eight blocks in the Thar coal area, which hold 175 billon tonnes of coal reserves.
“The total investment is worth $1 billion and Sindh government’s share is 40 per cent while the rest of the amount will be paid by the company,” he said, “ A feasibility report can be expected in 18 months and the power generation from the block is expected to start by 2015 or 2016.”
St Andrew’s Church
Pakistan People’s Party’s MPA Saleem Khurshid Khokhar raised the issue of St Andrew’s Church on MA Jinnah Road once again. He said that the record of that land where the church is built has been tampered with by some people with the involvement of revenue officials. The speaker referred the motion to the standing committee on revenue to investigate the matter and report on it in the next session.
The session was then prorogued by the speaker.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 29th, 2010.
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