FAISALABAD, June 23: Five major workers organizations have decided to launch a protest drive against what they called anti-labour policies and force the government to amend the Industrial Relations Ordinance, 2002.

This was resolved at a meeting of the Pakistan Federation of Trade Unions held here on Tuesday night. The meeting was told that all the main trade associations would stage demonstrations, set up hunger strike camps and observe strikes in their units to press the government for the immediate withdrawal of contract system, increase in salaries, stopping involvement of employers in the affairs of trade unions and amendment to the ordinance according to their demands.

The meeting noted with concern that thousands of skilled and unskilled workers were forced to work on contract even in the government, semi-government and private institutions at very nominal salaries.

The meeting observed that the government was playing in the hands of business tycoons despite protest movements launched by the trade and labour leaders. No relief package has been announced for the last so many years due to which workers have been facing financial hardships.

The meeting was addressed by Haji Abdul Jabbar, Aslam Wafa, Ahmad Ali Rana, Saeed Khan, Bashir Shakir, Muhammad Saeed, Malik Afzal Awan, Faqir Husain, Abdul Qayyum, Rana Idrees, Arshad Aziz and others.

consumer goods: The general store owners, bakers, retailers and stockists have enhanced the rates of almost all the consumer goods by 15 to 20 per cent only after 11 days of the federal budget.

During a city survey here on Wednesday, it is observed that the retail prices of tea pack, tooth paste, soap, detergent powder, vanaspati ghee and oil have gone up due to increase in the prices of power tariff and petroleum products.

The 5kg ghee tin of multi-national companies is being marketed at Rs395 against its previous month prices of Rs355. The loose ghee is being sold at Rs62 per kg as against Rs56. The tea pack of 200gm, available previously at Rs55, is now being marketed at Rs60.

Moreover, the bakers as well as multi-national companies preparing rusks, burgers, biscuits, bread and cakes have also raised the prices of their products. The shopkeepers are now selling the 20kg flour bag at Rs221 as against the previous price of Rs213 in the open market.

The 5kg cooking oil, which was available at Rs235 last week, is now being sold at Rs254. Similarly, 1kg milk pack of multi-national company is now being sold at Rs205 as against Rs190. An increase of Rs22 has been witnessed in the prices of red chili powder as it is being marketed at Rs102 per kg as against Rs80.

The super and colonel rice which were available at Rs27 and Rs29 are now available at Rs30 and Rs33, respectively. At least Rs2 to Rs3 have been enhanced in the prices of all pulses. The gram powder is being sold at Rs24 per kg as against Rs20.

Locally-made jelly and confectionery items of children have become dearer by 30 per cent. Custard powder, which was available for Rs12 per packet, is now being sold at Rs15 per packet.

ELECTROCUTED: A newly-married woman was electrocuted in Makuana village here on Tuesday night. Rani Bibi, married just three days ago, was trying to light a bulb when her hand touched wires. She died on the spot.