Manual labour: Home-based workers demand rights

The demonstration was led by a representative of the district Home-Based workers’ Action Committee.

MULTAN:

Dozens of home-based workers on Wednesday staged a protest demonstration in Sahiwal demanding recognition and labour rights.

The protestors staged a peaceful sit-in at the Sahiwal Women’s Development Centre to press their demand.

Speaking on the occasion, Abdul Mateen Janjua of the Strengthening Participatory Organisation (SPO) said 88 per cent of all home-based workers were women.

“They need protection and legal wages,” he said.

Janjua said the government should create a database of home-based workers in the country.

District Social Welfare Officer Alamdar Hussain told The Express Tribune that the provincial government was trying to ensure home-based workers got their rights.

The demonstration was led by Syed Muhammad Haider, a representative of the district Home-Based workers’ Action Committee. Hundreds of women participated in the protest.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 13^th, 2014.