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| July 25, 2005 | Monday | Jumadi-us-Sani 17, 1426 |
Contract workers to benefit: minister: Amendment in labour laws
ISLAMABAD, July 24: Federal Minister for Labour, Manpower and Overseas Pakistanis Ghulam Sarwar Khan on Sunday said after approval of amendments to certain labour laws by the federal cabinet, contract workers of industrial and commercial sectors would be entitled to get more benefits.
Talking to this agency, the minister said the provision of contract worker in the classification of workman was accepted due to which they would get the facilities including bonus, group insurance etc.
He said the amendments would soon be presented to the parliament and expressed the hope that it would be part of the ordinance after approval from the parliament.
He said earlier five types of people were included in the classification including permanent, probationers, temporary and apprentices under the West Pakistan Industrial and Commercial Employment (Standing Orders) Ordinance, 1968.
Mr Khan said contract workers were not enjoying all such facilities, adding that after amendment to the said law, they would enjoy all benefits given to the five categories in the ordinance.
He said as per provisions of ILO Convention C-24, it was obligatory that workers should enjoy in every period of seven days, a rest of at least 24 consecutive hours.
The minister said the government wanted to change the life of common man and was taking several steps in this regard.
He said the cabinet also approved amendment to the Workmen’s Compensation Act-1923 under which the workers drawing wages up to Rs5,000 per month would also be entitled for compensation.
He said this would be in line with the applicability of other labour laws.
Earlier, those workers were entitled to get compensation in case of death or injury (disability) who were getting monthly salary of Rs3,000.
Similarly, the minister said the cabinet had also approved amendment to the Factories Act-1934 under which the women might work up to 10pm in two shifts in a factory if the employer arranged for transport facilities.
He said through this amendment, women would be able to earn more. He said earlier due to restriction in laws despite requirement women were bound to work between 6am and 7pm.
He said under an amendment to the West Pakistan Shops and Establishments Ordinance-1969, the establishment need not be entirely closed on any one day in the week, adding that workers could enjoy the weekly holiday on different days in a week.
Earlier, in the existing provision, the establishment was bound to entirely close its business on specific days identified in the ordinance.
He said the proposed amendment aimed at promoting business activity in the country, while workers were now free to avail any day in a week as holiday.
Mr Khan said in another approved amendment to the same ordinance, the number of hours with overtime wages per day would be increased from two to three hours, 12 to 18 hours per week or total 150 hours to 936 hours per year. He said due to this an adult worker of the concerned setup could earn more amount on additional overtime.
The minister said it was also proposed that no such overtime would be payable to contract workers in the receipt of wages being calculated on piece rate basis.—APP
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