LAHORE, May 1: Thousands of industrial, construction and brick kiln workers staged rallies and protest demonstrations on city roads to mark the International Labour Day on Tuesday, deploring provincial and federal governments’ apathy toward their plight.

Holding placards and banners bearing various slogans, workers announced they would continue their struggle till acceptance of their demands.

The Pakistan Workers Confederation took out a protest rally from Bukhtiar Labour Hall.

“We invite the rulers to come and see a huge number of workers gathered here today. We ask you not to compel us to be on roads for protests always. It is better you accept our demands,” PWC secretary general Khurshid Ahmad said in his speech. He said the government should follow ILO conventions to give rights to workers.

The National Trade Union Federation in association with Labour Party Pakistan took out a rally from Shimla Hill to Faisal Chowk on The Mall, where Punjab Union of Journalists office bearers joined it.

Scores of brick kiln workers staged a protest rally at Charing Cross under the aegis of Bonded Labour Liberation Front. Led by secretary general Syeda Ghulam Fatima, the rally started from Abbot Road and concluded at Charing Cross.

The Women Workers Helpline staged a protest rally outside the Lahore Press Club in which scores of women workers participated and raised voice for their rights.

The Pakistan Trade Union Federation in collaboration with the Pakistan Bhatta Mazdoor Federation took out a rally in Kot Lakhpat, demanding that Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif ensure implementation of the Bonded Labour Abolition Act 1992.

The All Pakistan Trade Union Federation organised a rally of industrial workers on Lytton Road.

PPP: The Pakistan People’s Party staged a rally while the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid held a convention in connection with the May Day here on Tuesday.

The PPP staged a rally from the railway station to the press club. Punjab PPP President Imtiaz Safdar Warraich, Samina Ghurki and Aslam Gill were among participants in the rally.

Addressing the rally, Warraich said the PPP had been on forefront in giving rights to workers. He said the PPP government made them shareholders in different organisations. He said his party would continue fighting for the rights of the poor and downtrodden.

Addressing a labour convention organised by the PML-Q Labour Wing, party’s Punjab Secretary-General Chaudhry Zaheeruddin said if workers were given their due rights, The Mall would not have been turned into a ‘hartal road’.

All Pakistan Clerks Association President Haji Irshad announced that it was a unanimous decision that the PML-N would not be given vote in the next elections for its anti-employees policies.MPA Seemal Kamran said Pervaiz Elahi had given plots to more than 1,000 journalists without any discrimination, whereas the Khadim-i-Aala had not been able to give plots to the remaining 292 journalists.

MPA Engineer Shahzad Elahi demanded through a resolution that cases registered against protesting workers under anti-terrorism law should be withdrawn, dismissed employees be reinstated and daily wagers be confirmed.

MPA Amna Ulfat and Dr Samia Amjad also spoke on the occasion.