HYDERABAD, May 1: Programmes were held and rallies taken out across Sindh on Wednesday to pay homage to the labourers killed in Chicago in 1886 for demanding their basic rights.

Workers and activists belonging to various organisations, institutions and human rights forums marched on roads and held meetings at the points of culmination of their rallies. Carrying banners, they were shouting slogans against excesses meted out to labourers in the country and in favour of labour-friendly policies.

Speaking to participants, labour leaders urged the government to abolish the contract system, enhance the minimum monthly salary to Rs8,000, regularise ad hoc workers and ensure provision of all facilities, allowances, benefits in accordance with the relevant rules and regulations.

In Hyderabad city, a number rallies were taken out to mark the occasion. Those who addressed their respective gatherings included Pakistan Wapda Hydro Labour Union provincial secretary Iqbal Qaimkhani, Muttahida Labour Federation leader Mohammad Ashraf Rajput, All Sindh Trade Union Organisation secretary-general Ghulam Sarwar Chandio, Hyderabad Trade Union Defence Committee leader Jay Parkash, Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (HMC) leader Akram Rajput, Hyderabad Silver Cotton Mills Workers Union CBA Hyderabad president Muneer Ahmed, Pakistan Human Rights Forum chairman Mehboob Sangi and others.

MIRPURKHAS: Hundreds of workers of different departments took out a rally from the railway station roundabout under the banner of All Sindh Trade Unions Organisation Mirpurkhas chapter to the local press club.

Addressing the workers, speakers said labourers were being deprived of their genuine rights and they were forced to lead life in miserable conditions. They demanded of the government to provide facilities to labourers.

SUKKUR: A rally was taken out from old Pir Goth Bus stop near Hira Medical Centre to the clock tower roundabout of Sukkur by Pakistan Workers Federation in which workers of different departments and organisations, including Wapda, Sepco, irrigation, PTCL and paramedics, participated.

Addressing the participants, speakers appreciated the sacrifices of Chicago labourers who facilitated framing of laws against exploitation of workers.

A meeting was also held at District Council Hall Sukkur in connection with the Labour Day.

KHAIRPUR: Addressing a ceremony held here to mark the Labour Day, former PPP MNA Nafisa Shah has said that in some countries of the world, labour parties are working. They are organised and also win elections to come into power so that they could work for the welfare of their countries.

Muttahida Mazdoor Federation president Qadir Bux Pirzado, general secretary Feroze Phulpoto, labour leader Ilyas Lashari and Nazar Bhutto also highlighted the problems of labourers.

UMERKOT: A large number of labourers along with poets, intellectuals, teachers and journalists hailing from Umerkot took out a rally from Thar bazaar to the local press club.

They demanded political parties to include the strategy to address the issues of labourers in their party manifestoes.

A rally was also taken out under the aegis of Bonded Labour Liberation Front, led by Meva-Ram Dongrani and others.

DADU: Organisations, including Pakistan Trade Union Defence Campaign, Pakistan Paramedic Staff Associations Dadu Unit, Railway Labour Union Dadu and Taluka Municipal Employees Union Dadu, took out rallies from Mondar Nakka to the local press club.

MITHI: The candidates of Qomi Awami Tehreek for NA 229 and PS 62, Miss Hajiani Lanjo and Vasand Thari, paid tributes to labourers on Wednesday and criticised selfish landlords who deprived peasants of their basic rights.

Addressing a ceremony at Qomi Awami Tehreek House, they alleged that the Arbabs or other selfish traditional landlords elected from Thar had not worked for labourers during their tenure.