July 9, 2003	Wednesday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 8,1424

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ISLAMABAD, July 8: The leaders of Pakistan Workers Confederation (PWC) have urged the government to raise wages of workers in the private sector in keeping with the price hike since 2001 when Rs2,500 was fixed as the minimum wage for unskilled workers.

The PWC president, Gul Rehman, general secretary, Khursheed Ahmad, and several other leaders of the confederation were speaking at a press conference on Tuesday.

The labour leaders raised the problems being faced by the country’s working class.

The labour leaders called for bringing labour legislation such as the Industrial Relations Ordinance in conformity with the constitutional provisions of the country and principles of ILO Conventions 87 and 98.

They also asked the government to repeal the anti-labour legislation provisions under the ordinance curbing freedom of association and collective bargaining which were fundamental rights of the workers.

They also demanded repeal of anti-labour laws namely Civil Servant Tribunal Act debarring more than 2 million public sector workers to approach National Industrial Relations Court and labour court; repeal of Section 27/B of Banking Companies Ordinance imposing restriction upon the exercise of fundamental trade union right of banking workers; repeal Removal from Service (special powers) Ordinance 2002 being against the principles of natural justice and Constitution; get implemented 7th Wage Board Award for working journalists; bring the work-charge, contract, temporary workers on permanent basis employed both in the public and private sector.

The PWC leaders deplored the attitude of the government for not holding any meaningful dialogue at the level of the chief executive of Pakistan after coming into power.

They also asked the prime minister to take immediate steps to resolve these issues, otherwise, the workers will be compelled to launch protest drive.