KARACHI: Trade unions vow to launch movement: ‘Anti-worker’ policies
KARACHI, July 28: All major trade unions of the country have decided to launch a vigorous movement against contract system, amendment to the EOBI Act to depriving workers of their pension right, and other anti-worker measures unless the government changed its policies towards workers.
The decision was taken at a representative convention of trade unions organised by the National Labour Federation (NLF) here on Friday.
In a joint declaration adopted and issued at the end of the convention, the leaders demanded withdrawal of the decision under which working hours for women have been extended till 10pm, repeal of the Industrial Relations Ordinance-2002, elimination of contract system and recent amendment to the EOBI Act. They also demanded a judicial inquiry into the recent same which led to the historic crash at the Karachi Stock Exchange.
According to speakers, workers have been pushed to the wall and find no option open but to wage a forceful struggle for safeguarding their due rights.
They blamed the government for hike in oil and gas rates and prices of essential commodities, besides the rising graph of unemployment, and said the situation was a result of the World Bank, IMF and other international monetary agencies’ policies pursued by the government.
Leaders representing the Small Traders Organisation said that small traders and industrialists had plunged into a quagmire owing to the WB and IMF policies.
Speakers also demanded a thorough probe into the privatisation process vis-a-vis the PTCL and other national assets.
The joint declaration termed the Finance Bill ‘anti-worker’, and strongly opposed the legalisation of contract system and extended timings for working women. It also described fixation of minimum wages at Rs4000 as a joke with workers.
The convention asked the rulers to step down forthwith for their failure in improving the condition of workers, and urged political parties to forge unity and launch a movement from a single platform for the restoration of democracy and a judicious system in the country. They held out the assurance that workers across the country would play an active role in making the movement a success.
Amir of Jamaat-i-Islami, Karachi, Dr Merajul Huda Siddiqui, who also addressed the convention, assured the leaders that his party would bring a halt to the privatisation process and institute a judicial inquiry into the sell out of national assets when it would come into power.
NLF President Rafique Ahmed presided over the convention which was attended by Habib Junaidi of the Bank Employees Federation and the All Pakistan Trade Union Organisation, Iqbal Munshi of the Pakistan Workers Federation and the Stock Exchange Employees Union, Comrade Manzoor Razi of the Pakistan Railway Workers Federation, Shaukat Ali of the Trade Union Congress, M. K. Azmati of the Personal Foundation, Adam Gandhro of the Sindh Fishermen Association, Mehmood Hamid of the All Pakistan Organisation of Small Traders, Shaikh Majeed of the PIA People’s Labour Union, Zafar Khan of the Pakistan Steel Labour Union, Mohammad Ashraf of the Piasi Union, Shahid Ayub of the PTCL Workers Pak Union, Abdul Salam of the Shipyard Mazdoor Union, Saeed Ahmed Khan of the Sui Southern Gas Company Employees Union, Chaudhry Ghulam Hussain of the KESC Labour Union, Khalid Khan of the Sajan Union KWSB, as well as leaders from PNSC, FGFC, Hamdard, JSL Heavy Vehicle, Lucky Textile, Hotel Employees and other unions.—PPI
