Civil society demands effective implementation of labour laws
LAHORE: Various civil society organizations has demanded that Punjab government ensure the implementation of labour laws in order to address during a provincial dialogue on “Labour Issues, Bounded Labour and Role of Labour Courts in Justice Provision” arranged by Citizen’s Commission for Human Development (CCHD) in collaboration with DAI under EDACE Project.
While participants of dialogue has adopted a unanimous resolution by demanding the Government of Pakistan must bring the culprits involved in Baldia Town Karachi incident in court of Justice as soon as possible to build the confidence of millions of workers of current justice system. It was also agreed by all participants that a forums comprising Government officials, NGOs and trade union representatives to work jointly to influence Labour Department to create worker-friendly environment.
On the occasion, Bounded Labour Liberation Front (BLLF) Ghulam Fatima stressed that there is dire need to ensure the implementation of Laws which prohibit any form of bonded labour. She said that CSOs should come forward to build the capacities of brick kiln so they may empower to claim their rights from their employers. She also stressed that to ensure 100 percent coverage of social security benefits to brick kiln workers.
Working Women Organization (WWO) Executive Director Aima Mehmood said that there has many still issues of equal wages for women workers and it is the role of Labour Department to ensure the equality between men and women workers. She emphasized that to start change campaign to bring change in attitude of employers while employing the married women workers as many employers did not prefer married women workers.
Mehboob Ahmed Khan from Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) said that Labour Laws in Pakistan requires reforms to address the issues of Labourer promptly as Justice delayed in Justice denied. He said that the importance of organizing the labourer so they may able to act in an organized way to claim their rights. Another speaker MPA Dr Najma Afzal said that Punjab Government has taken many initiatives to address the issues of women workers including passage of bill for establishment of day care centers for working women which will contribute to provide an environment conducive to Women Workers.
Labour and Human Resource Department Director Malik Nazir Ahmad shared that Punjab Government allocated billions of Rupees for eradication and child and bounded labour from Punjab Province. He further said that Punjab Government has committed to provide the maximum relief to the Workers and number of Projects has been initiated by Labour Department under the kind supervision of Minister for Labour Punjab.
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