PESHAWAR: On May Day, different labour organisations demanded of the government to fix Rs30,000 as minimum wage for the workers so that they could meet basic requirements of life.

They also demanded implementation of the decision regarding minimum wage and ensuring job security for workers in different private sector organisations.

In Peshawar, the day was marked by a rally on the Ring Road jointly organised by employees of different trade unions. The participants held banners and placards inscribed with demands for solution to their problems. The rally was led by leaders of All Pakistan Workers Confederation.

Recalling the sacrifices of Chicago workers, the speakers said the employees in Pakistan were also facing almost similar injustices but the successive governments had failed to address their concerns.

They stressed the need for forging unity among workers to force the ruling class to implement decisions regarding minimum wages. They also criticised the government for imposing ban on trade unions in 98 per cent of private sector organisations, saying that labourers were forced to work for 12 hours on just Rs5,000 to Rs6,000.

They said that the workers were also not given social security, medical facilities and labour laws were openly violated with no check from the authorities concerned.

PTI Fata chapter also organised a rally from Karkhano market to Bagh-i-Naran in Hayatabad, with the participants urging the government to increase their salaries.

LAKKI MARWAT: Municipal employees led by provincial president of the Local Government Employees’ Federation, Haji Anwar Kamal, took out a procession from Tanchi office and marched on the Bannu-Mianwali road, before converging at Qazi Ishfaq chowk. They paid tribute to the Chicago martyrs and pressed the government for acceptance of their demands.

SWABI: Pakistan Workers Federation (PWF) and Gadoon Workers Federation (GWF) in their separate May Day functions demanded implementation of labour laws to save livelihoods of thousands of workers and their families.

Asad Qaisar, Speaker Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, MPA Babar Saleem, Shaukat Ali Anjum, national coordinator PWF, and workers attended a programme organised by PWF to pay tribute to workers who laid down their lives in Chicago in 1886. The PWF held a rally from Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway interchange to district headquarters.

Speakers said both the federal and provincial governments failed to deliver when the question of the workers’ rights came.

MANSEHRA: Like other parts of the county, the World Labour Day was also observed here with a pledge to continue the mission of Chicago labourers.

The workers and labourers from different departments and organisations took out a rally from municipal committee offices and culminated at Khatm-i-Nubuwat Chowk after marching through various roads.

The labour leaders said the government should give due rights to labourers and increase their minimum wage so that they could live a respectable life.

KARAK: The United Workers Welfare Organisation observed the May Day to remember the labourers who laid down their lives in Chicago and stressed on the government to take steps for improving the life standard of labourers.

Speaking at a function, the organisation’s chairman Iqbal Khan said labourers played a key role in the country’s development and demanded of the government to devise worker friendly policies.

He demanded of the government to adopt international wage policy for the workers, saying that health and other facilities should be provided to children of workers.

TIMERGARA: Local NGO, Shakeel Shaheed Development Organisation (SSDO), arranged a function at Serai Payeen to observe the International Labour Day.

The function was attended by farmers, social and political activists. Addressing the programme, SSDO founder Dr Bakht Jamal, and others paid rich tributes to workers who rendered sacrifices for uplift of their nations across the globe. They said workers, peasants and daily wagers were backbone of a nation and they must be rewarded for their hard work.

They demanded of the government to increase wages of workers, provide them with cheap and interest-free loans for constructing houses, ensure their medical care and other facilities that fall under the labour laws.

CHARSADDA: The Mutahidda Labour Federation held a ceremony at the labour colony here to observe the May Day with a renewed pledge to work for the rights of labourers.

Retried employees and labourers from different parts of the district were in attendance.

The speakers called on the government to enact laws to safeguard the rights of working class.

Published in Dawn, May 2nd, 2015

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