PESHAWAR, May 1: Local labour organizations have asked the government to take steps for the welfare of labourers, saying the workers play a vital role in the development of the country.

This was the crux of views expressed by leaders of labour organizations who organized walks and rallies besides functions in different localities to observe the International Labour Day on Saturday.

The Muttahida Labour Federation (MLF) organized the function at the Atta Hall in which a large number of labourers took part. It asked the government to implement laws aimed at the betterment of workers. Earlier, some small processions, taken out in different parts of the city, converged at the the hall.

Speaking on the occasion, labour leaders highlighted the struggle of Chicago workers who laid down their lives for the cause of workers, and pledged to follow in their footsteps and make strenuous efforts for the welfare of the workers.

They asked the government to take steps for improving working conditions of labourers and implementation of labour laws in letter and in spirit.

They demanded of the government to create congenial environment for the workers in industries. They called upon the participants of the meeting to keep dignity of labour and work for the economic development of the country.

They were of the view that the workers were being exploited by industrialists for the past 56 years, which had caused them starvation. They demanded a raise in the salary of workers in the next budget and warned of agitation if they were ignored by the government.

Provincial Minister for Industries Malik Zafar Azam said that the MMA government was giving top priority to the well-being of the working class. He said efforts were being made to provide residential facilities to all workers.

He said raids would be conducted on factories and cases instituted against those units which were found involved in exploiting the workers by paying them low wages.

The Khyber Union of Journalists (KhUJ) organized a joint walk with Salik Foundation to express solidarity with the labour around the world. A large number of journalists, students and people from the minority community took part in the walk.

The walk, led by NWFP Minister for Zakat, Ushr and Social Welfare, Hafiz Hashmat Khan, Peshawar Press Club (PPC) President Muhammad Riaz and Secretary-General Iqbal Khattak, started from the PPC and the participants marched through Sher Shah Suri Road.

Muttahida Amn Mahaz, Frontier Scouts Open Group, Public Transport Owners' Association, Pakistan Workers' Confederation, Shama Welfare Association and Rickshaw Drivers' Association also organized a walk that started from the Government Higher Secondary School No 2, Peshawar Cantt, and passed through different roads and terminated at the Chowk Yadgaar.