MULTAN, June 3: A pre-budget seminar organised by the National Labour Federation (NLF) demanded the government increase the salary of labourers by 50 per cent and remove restrictions on trade union activities.

The meeting was presided over by Abdul Wahab

Khan Niazi, NLF provincial president.

Merajuddin Khan, NLF central president, said the rulers were organising political meetings by spending taxes collected from the people.

Niazi said the government was responsible for the problems of the people and had exploited the rights of labourers. He demanded the increase in basic salary of a labourer from Rs4,000 to Rs6,000.

Hashim Khan Awan, NLF senior vice president, demanded the government make a clear policy for social security and provide job security to labourers.

Lal Din Ansari, Tonga Union president, said the district government had promised to replace tongas by CNG rickshaw but it seemed the government would forget the promise after the elections.