March 12, 2007	Monday	Safar 22, 1428

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LAHORE, March 11: The National Trade Union Federation has demanded enforcement of labour laws in Punjab for the protection of rights of workers.

It was pointed out in a meeting of the federation held here with its president Moeen Nawaz Punnu in the chair that labour laws were not being enforced not only in far-flung areas but in the provincial metropolis as well. Thousands of workers in 3,000 registered industrial units in Lahore had been deprived of medical treatment facilities because of non-enforcement of social security rules.

The Employees Old Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) deposits had swelled to Rs130 billion but the minimum rate of pension of workers was not being raised above Rs1,300 per month. Most of the workers were not being paid the minimum wage of Rs4,000 either.

They said not only labours laws but social security provisions should also be enforced in the industrial units in the province. The minimum pension should be increased to Rs3,000 and minimum wage to Rs8,000 in view of increase in the cost of living. Workers drawing salaries up to Rs15,000 should be brought under the purview of social security and Industrial Relations Ordinance should be brought in conformity with the International Labour Organisation conventions.