May 03, 2008	Saturday	Rabi-us-Sani 26, 1429

TAXILA, May 2: Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Qamar Zaman Kaira has said the government will undo all the anti-labour laws and provide relief to the working class in the upcoming federal budget.

The minister was speaking at a function held at Wah Cantonment on Thursday to mark the International Labour Day. The function was organised by POF Workmen Association, a representative body of over 30,000 employees of the Pakistan Ordinance Factories, with the collaboration of PPP’s local wing.

Mr Kaira said it was necessary to eliminate all laws and system exploiting the workers for the improvement of socio- economic condition of the working class.

He sought proposals from union leaders to change such laws.

The minister said the party had already constituted a four member committee led by Federal Minister for Labour Syed Khursheed Shah, which would finalise the amendments to the labour-related laws and to made long and short-term plans for the workers’ welfare.

He added that the PPP government would soon form a commission to resolve the problems of workers who had been forcibly terminated from different departments and industrial units by the successive governments.

Mr Kaira said the government would construct around eight million houses for the labourers’ community, besides establishing higher secondary school, vocational centre and hospital in each district of the country.