May 02, 2008	Friday	Rabi-us-Sani 25, 1429

ISLAMABAD, May 1: Federal Minister for Labour, Manpower and Overseas Pakistanis Syed Khursheed Shah announced on Thursday a 12-point welfare package for workers and promised to repeal all anti-labour laws.

The package, unveiled at a May Day convention, includes increase in wages and pension, improvement of working conditions, security of employment, housing facilities and grants and allowances for labourers.

The minister said all labour laws would be modified in line with the ratified Conventions of the International Labour Organisation to safeguard the interests of the working class.

He promised that 80,000 houses and apartments would be built and allotted to industrial workers on ownership basis.

He said the government had decided to repeal the Industrial Relations Ordinance of 2002 and restore the relevant clauses of the IRO 1969. A tripartite conference will soon be convened for the purpose.

Mr Shah announced an increase in the minimum pension from Rs1,500 to Rs2,000 per month from July. He said the workers’ profit fund would be increased to Rs24,000 per annum from Rs18,400.

He said a law was being finalised for increasing the minimum wages from Rs4,600 to Rs6,000 per month.

He also said that a marriage grant would be paid for daughters of every worker.

He promised medical facilities for industrial workers and said that a hospital would be set up in every city for the purpose. Educational institutions will be set up in all districts for workers’ children.

All high schools being run under the Workers’ Welfare Fund will be upgraded to the higher secondary level.

Mr Shah said a plan was being worked out to ensure that maximum number of workers was covered by the social security and old-age pension schemes.

He said maintenance allowance during suspension of an employee of an industrial establishment had been increased from 50 per cent of his pay to 100 per cent.

The minister Section 27/2-B which banned banking unions would be repealed and a committee had been formed for the purpose.

Besides, all labour laws which were against the interests of workers would be amended.

The convention organised by the Capital Development Authority Employees’ Federation was attended by members of the People’s Labour Bureau, Pakistan Workers’ Federation and other labour unions.