ISLAMABAD, May 31: Labour rights can only be preserved, protected and advanced, if they are organized and take active part in political process.

This was stated by Omar Asghar Khan of Qaumi Jamhoori Party at a seminar on “Labour participation in political process” organized by Society for citizen’s rights here on Friday.

Speaking on the occasion, the former labour minister said the need of the hour was to outline a long-term strategy with a view to build a broad-based coalition represented by women, middle class professionals and effective political platforms.

“One way to make use of political potential of labour class was to transform all the trade unions into an electoral college, and single constituency should elect their own labour representatives well-conversant with ‘labour unionism’ for national and provincial assemblies.”

Regarding political role of labour in the upcoming elections 2002, Omar Asghar said graduation criteria should be relaxed for workers.

Zahoor Awan of Society for citizens rights said Pakistani labour community constitutes 40.8 million people and they can bring revolutionary changes if they stand united.

Speaking to the gathering of some 100 labour leaders belonging to 60 different trade unions, he expressed concern over the challenging times an ordinary Pakistani worker is going through, which in his view, was being further marginalized by the processes of globalisation, industrial slowdown, rising prices and political uncertainty in the country.

He condemned the misuse of labour vote bank by mainstream political forces who after coming into power ditched them and forgot their commitments for the betterment of labour’s quality of life.

Accusing the successive governments of selfishness, he came hard on the political leaders who in the name of labour interests have been trampling on their.

“There has been no worthwhile labour policy since 1972, he said.

The only way to block the political exploitation of this fraternity in the parliament dominated by feudal and capitalist classes lies through the presence of strong and collective labour voice in the decision making process.”

Referring to his research experience on the role of labour in political process, former director PIDE Dr Irfan said education, mobilization and organization of labour classes can provide answer to their ineffective political role.

Labour leaders should shun playing in the hands of political parties and splinter groups of trade unions should get together under a broad trade forum.

Explaining the factors responsible for troubled existence of labour community, Dr Irfan took a snipe at structural adjustment programmes, unequal income distribution, lopsided taxation which led to the deterioration of real wages.

He suggested that they should make meaningful relations with underprivileged, powerless and hapless social groups and then fight for political rights collectively.

Voicing his apprehensions Mr Tikka Khan from All Pakistan Federation of Akhbar Faroosh called for the creation of a labour party.

At the end of the seminar Zahoor Awan announced that set of recommendations made here will be compiled and then presented to the National Reconstruction Bureau.

The idea is to make the government realize about the plight of labour class which can only be addressed if a right kind of labour policy is formulated and implemented in letter and spirit.

—-Ziaur Rehman Hashmi