KARACHI, April 16: A workers' conference on Friday demanded that the Industrial Relations Ordinance (IRO) 2002 be amended and made in accordance with the Constitution and the ILO Conventions.

They were speaking at the conclusion of a national conference, organized by the International Union of Food at the Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (PILER) Centre.

Asia Pacific regional secretary Ma Wei Pin and IUF Japan coordination committee secretary Tamoji Masatu and others spoke to over 100 delegates from food, beverages, hotel, restaurants, clubs, tobacco, sugar, vegetable ghee and agricultural unions at the conference.

Demanding immediate withdrawal of the recently announced industrial policy of the Punjab government, they said it was in violation of the ILO conventions and existing labour laws.

They demanded that the contract system and daily wage system be abolished in all industrial, government, semi-government and private organizations and that trade unions should also open their membership to all employees without any discrimination.

The demanded that all employees who had been politically victimized or terminated due to trade union activities be reinstated and that they should be paid all their arrears immediately. They demanded that the insurance facility be extended to the fishing sector and all fishermen should be registered with the social security department.

They suggested that the ILO be asked to organize a tripartite social dialogue between the government, the workers and the employers to sort out issues. They suggested that women be given their due role in trade union activities and their representation be ensured in policy-making bodies of workers.

Pointing out the importance and effectiveness of the industrial and sector-wise trade unions, they said that as Sugar Mills Workers Federation, Pakistan Hotels, Restaurants, Clubs, Tourism and Allied Federation had been established, efforts be made to form active unions in the food, beverage and agricultural sectors so that rights of the workers in these sectors could also be safeguarded.