06 March 2004	Saturday	14 Muharram 1425

KARACHI, March 5: The Directorate of Labour registered 93 trade unions during the last year. This was stated in a progress report presented to Sindh Minister for Labour, Industries and Transport Muhammad Adil Siddiqui at a meeting.

According to an official statement, over 36 trade unions were declared CBAs while 11 trade unions were 'de-registered' and a total of 24 referendums were held during the last year.

The labour directorate carried out 20 settlements through conciliation while 38 settlements were reached through mutual agreement. The report stated that Rs13,395,529 were paid to workers under the Workmen Compensation Act and the Payment of Wages Act.

The number of cases decided under the Workmen Compensation Act were 213 while 150 cases were decided under the Payment of Wages Act. The report mentioned that the directorate had been actively engaged in inspection of factories under various labour laws.

In all, 2,813 factories were inspected, 70 prosecution were lodged and 202 new factories were registered while three factories were de-registered during the last year.

The minister expressed satisfaction over the performance of the directorate and desired to gear up the working of field directorates. About his order for streamlining the working of labour directorates with modern techniques, the minister was informed that a proposal in this regard had been sent to the finance department. -APP