KARACHI, Jan 15: Employees and employers have unanimously rejected the Industrial Relations Ordinance (IRO) 2002 and have demanded that the ordinance be drafted in accordance with the suggestions of a tripartite labour conference.

This was claimed by workers and employers leaders at a seminar, jointly organized by PILER, the Pakistan Workers Confidence (PWC) and the Movement for Labour Rights, here on Wednesday.

Labour leaders said the ordinance was not only against the spirit of the Constitution and the ILO core labour standards but was also contrary to them. The urged the Supreme Court to take suo-motu action against the ordinance.

They added that after the tripartite labour conference, it was hoped that a law would be formulated giving protection to the rights of association and collective bargaining, and which would be acceptable to both employers and employees, but unfortunately it did not happen.

They emphasized that on this issue a countrywide movement might be launched because both employees and employers were united, and they were of the view that the IRO-2002 ran contrary to their aspirations.

“Letters have been sent to government authorities in which both workers and employees have condemned the ordinance,” they added.

Among others, the central president of the PWC, Gul Rahman, the Sindh president of the PWC, Kaneez Fatima, and PILER directors Karamat Ali spoke at the seminar.—PPI