ISLAMABAD: Scores of workers, including labourers, domestic workers, students, and progressive organisations, attended the ‘Mehngai Jalsa’ held in G-9 by the Awami Workers Party (AWP), Progressive Students Federation (PrSF) and Women Democratic Front (WDF) in commemoration of May 1 - the International Labour Day.

Similarly, rallies and conventions were also held in Rawalpindi and Gilgit-Baltistan to mark the day.

In Islamabad, members of all three organisations stressed the need to build solidarity networks between workers and the progressive movements, as without these linkages creating a “great revolutionary force to overthrow exploitative systems” of power would not be possible.

According to a statement, the organisers of the jalsa also shared their political programme against the rising inflation in Pakistan, including a liveable minimum wage that is raised according to the prices of essential goods, land reform and redistribution, free education and health services, rejection of the IMF programme, initiation of a people-friendly budget, taxing the propertied class and ending their tax breaks, resolutions for the democratisation of the country’s economy, and institutions that are under the democratic control of the working classes.

Katchi Abadi Alliance demands distribution of land, regularisation of slums

AWP leader Aasim Sajjad Akhtar emphasised, “Pakistan is in the grip of the worst economic crisis in its history. It will default soon, despite negotiations with the IMF and the state’s adherence to many of their conditions. We need to align the struggle against the IMF and the anti-poor policies of the state with the struggle for a working-class revolution.”

WDF leader Tooba Syed declared, “The origins of Labour Day stem from working-class movements’ fight for an 8-hour working day. Even now, we still witness women, continuing to work more than eight hours a day, in paid and unpaid labour. Our work is undervalued as this benefits corporate and capitalist interests. Neoliberalism has caused further informalisation and contractualisation of already precarious women workers.”

Samina Bibi, leader of the All Katchi Abadi Alliance and Awami Workers Party, called for the regularisation of all ‘katchi abadis’, ‘bastiyaan’, ‘pind’ and ‘goth’, where people from war-torn areas, feudal heartlands, and poverty-stricken villages take refuge. She said, “Our ‘katchi abadis’ and ‘pinds’ are the first casualty in this era of insurmountable inflation.” She demanded a decrease in the prices of daily amenities, as well as land reform and redistribution.

‘Student movement’

Fatima Shahzad highlighted, “We can only build a student movement through a revolutionary programme. We are here to honour the workers of Pakistan: the teachers and custodian staff members who continue to work, without getting adequate pay, in service of the students of our country. We want a free education and university system that serves the people.”

Farzana Bari, secretary of AWP, stated, “We must recognise the interconnected nature of these crises and the various forms of chronic oppression and exploitation faced by women… If we want social and economic justice, the working class must unite and rise to reclaim their labour and take control of the business of the state!”

An art performance on May Day was also a part of the programme, which focused on the forced eviction of small vendors in the city. “Our fight for a just economic system is intrinsically linked to our shared responsibility toward actualising justice built on socialist principles,” said Areej Hussain, a member of Laal Hartaal.

‘Stand up for rights’

In Rawalpindi, the workers and labour organisations arranged different seminars and rallies and urged the working class to join hands for their rights. All Pakistan Workers Confederation after a rally on Murree Road and arranged a convention at the Rawalpindi Press Club. Pakistan Mazdoor Mahaz, Awami Workers Party, Oil Tankers Association, All Pakistan Hydro-electric Workers Union, and Railways Workers Union members also attended the convention.

In the rally, the participants carried red flags and placards inscribed with slogans for the rights of workers and they chanted slogans in favour of their demands.

Farzana Bari and Akram Bunda urged the workers to stand up for their rights. They said that industrial workers were not getting their rights despite the tall claims of the government and added that the workers were suffering from financial crises and the government failed to address their problem and further plans to privatise the state organisations.

No labour laws in Gilgit

In Gilgit, Red Workers Front leader and former president of the Supreme Appellate Court Bar Association Ehsan Ali said the federal government has not extended labour laws to the region for the protection of workers.

He said in 2012, a petition had been filed in the GB Supreme Appellate Court seeking extension of 12 laws, including the Industrial Relation Act, Road Transport Act, and Minimum Wages Act to Gilgit-Baltistan, but these laws haven’t been extended to GB despite the court order.

Ehsan Ali said the power department employees do not have a right to compensation in case of an accident. GB Young Doctors Association President Bahadur Shah said GB hospital workers have no rights. He added MRI, CT Scan, medicines and other facilities were not available in the government hospitals of the region.

— Aamir Yasin in Rawalpindi Jamil Nagri in Gilgit also contributed to this report

Published in Dawn, May 2nd, 2023