Labour Day: Calls for end to exploitation

ISLAMABAD:

Trade unionists, labour organisations, civil society members and journalists have called for stopping exploitation of labour through the provision of better wages and conducive work environments.

Several rallies and events were held in the twin cities to mark International Labour Day and highlight the plight of labourers in the country.

Pakistan Workers Federation (PWF) and Awami Workers Party (AWP) also held rallies, which started from Rawalpindi Press Club and culminated on Murree Road, with speakers pledging to fight for the rights of workers and labourers.

PWF regional chairman Zafarullah Khan said that every year, the day was observed by highlighting the issues of workers and labourers, but the government was not paying attention to their plight, which was callous and lamentable.

Khan said that the workers will not allow the government to privatise public entities such as the Wapda, Pakistan International Airlines, and Pakistan Railways.

The labour leaders demanded that the government end anti-labour policies and take meaningful steps for the betterment of workers.

Meanwhile, a seminar was also held at the National Press Club under the aegis of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists. Representatives and employees of different organisations including the Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited, Banking Federation of the State Bank, and the Capital Development Authority paid tributes to workers who laid down their lives in their struggle to protect the rights of workers.

AWP also arranged a mass public meeting against the privatisation of public entities in the Sector I-11 katchi abadi.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 2^nd, 2015.