Even after two years: Deprived workers largely unaware of recognition
Agriculture and fisheries workforce was granted labour status in March 2013
Millions of peasants and fishermen were included in the umbrella of workers when the Sira was enacted in March 2013 PHOTO: APP
HYDERABAD:
Deprived of labour status and accompanying benefits for long, agriculture and fisheries sectors’ workers are largely unaware of the fact that they have been recognised in light of the Sindh Industrial Relations Act (Sira).
According to speakers at a seminar on Wednesday, these peasants and fishermen need to be apprised of their rights. The seminar was organised by the Sindh labour department in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and UN Women.
Millions of peasants and fishermen were included in the umbrella of workers when the Sira was enacted in March 2013. However, despite this recognition, these workers remain largely oblivious to their rights of forming trade unions and approaching labour tribunals and courts.
"The relevant quarters should spread awareness about Sira so that unjust and inhuman labour conditions [prevalent in the two sectors] can be positively impacted," said FAO’s Ali Ashraf. He said that the UN agencies had to take up the initiative of organising such events as both the government functionaries and the peasant communities are aware of the act.
According to ILO's Abid Niaz Khan, agricultural workers, particularly women who constitute a huge chunk of the workforce in the sector, face exploitation and denial of their labour rights.
Employees Federation of Pakistan regional chairperson Waqar Ahmed Memon said that his organisation will soon start forming the unions of peasants and fishermen in Mirpurkhas and Dadu districts. "Currently we are engaged with the landlords to learn about their concerns and recommendations,” he said. “We want to ensure that the sudden emergence of the unions doesn’t lead to a friction between the employer and employees, leading to harmful effects on the agriculture sector."
The membership will start from the village level of a particular union which will eventually lead to the formation of district, regional and provincial chapters, he explained.
Asim Jaleel, the national project coordinator of UN Women, complained that home-based workers are not covered by the Sira. "Over two million women are employed in this sector, but the successive legislations have failed to recognise them as labourers," he said, adding that home-based labourers work in hazardous conditions and are also exploited by commission agents.
Jaleel reminded the government that it is signatory to the international conventions which specifically provide protection to the women workers. He added that Sira's section three also states that: "... the trade union shall include women in the executive and office-bearers of the said trade union with the same proportion in which they are employed in the establishment."
Deprived of labour status and accompanying benefits for long, agriculture and fisheries sectors’ workers are largely unaware of the fact that they have been recognised in light of the Sindh Industrial Relations Act (Sira).
According to speakers at a seminar on Wednesday, these peasants and fishermen need to be apprised of their rights. The seminar was organised by the Sindh labour department in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and UN Women.
Millions of peasants and fishermen were included in the umbrella of workers when the Sira was enacted in March 2013. However, despite this recognition, these workers remain largely oblivious to their rights of forming trade unions and approaching labour tribunals and courts.
"The relevant quarters should spread awareness about Sira so that unjust and inhuman labour conditions [prevalent in the two sectors] can be positively impacted," said FAO’s Ali Ashraf. He said that the UN agencies had to take up the initiative of organising such events as both the government functionaries and the peasant communities are aware of the act.
According to ILO's Abid Niaz Khan, agricultural workers, particularly women who constitute a huge chunk of the workforce in the sector, face exploitation and denial of their labour rights.
Employees Federation of Pakistan regional chairperson Waqar Ahmed Memon said that his organisation will soon start forming the unions of peasants and fishermen in Mirpurkhas and Dadu districts. "Currently we are engaged with the landlords to learn about their concerns and recommendations,” he said. “We want to ensure that the sudden emergence of the unions doesn’t lead to a friction between the employer and employees, leading to harmful effects on the agriculture sector."
The membership will start from the village level of a particular union which will eventually lead to the formation of district, regional and provincial chapters, he explained.
Asim Jaleel, the national project coordinator of UN Women, complained that home-based workers are not covered by the Sira. "Over two million women are employed in this sector, but the successive legislations have failed to recognise them as labourers," he said, adding that home-based labourers work in hazardous conditions and are also exploited by commission agents.
Jaleel reminded the government that it is signatory to the international conventions which specifically provide protection to the women workers. He added that Sira's section three also states that: "... the trade union shall include women in the executive and office-bearers of the said trade union with the same proportion in which they are employed in the establishment."