August 07, 2008	Thursday	Sha’aban 4, 1429

HYDERABAD, Aug 6: The Pakistan Workers Federation in collaboration with Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric Central Labour Union staged rallies and demonstrations in different parts of Sindh on Wednesday to protest against price hike, anti-labour laws and other problems confronting the working class.

In Hyderabad, hundreds of workers led by the workers federation leaders took out a rally from Labour Hall Gari Khata which ended at the press club after marching on different roads.

Speaking on the occasion, the labour leaders said that due to price hike and rampant unemployment, common man could not arrange even one single meal for his family.

They said that all anti-labour laws should be repealed and agriculture and industry should be encouraged to hire more workers.

They said house acquisition facilities should be provided to workers. They also demanded that the deposed judges should be reinstated honourably.

In Nawabshah, members of Wapda Hydro Electric Central Labour Union took out a rally and held a protest demonstration outside the press club.

The rally started from old power house Manuabad and ended at the press club. The protesters were carrying banners, placards.

Labour leaders said that their demands included price control, reduction in prices of fuel and daily use commodities, provision of jobs, implementation of labour laws and payment of minimum wage of Rs6,500 to employees working in private sector and maintenance of law and order in the country.

In Khairpur, Pakistan Workers Federation and Hydro Electric Central Labour Union took out a protest rally.

Led by labour leaders the rally started from old power house Khairpur and reached press club where they staged a protest demonstration.

They said that price hike had hit the country and demanded dearness allowance.

In Mirpurkhas, Pakistan Workers Federation activists took out a rally from the railway station roundabout.

They condemned the government for increasing prices of general commodities.

In Sukkur, scores of office-bearers and members of different trade unions took out a protest rally from Mohammad Bin Qasim Park to Clock Tower and staged a sit-in outside the press club.

Pakistan Workers Federation, Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric Union, PTCL Union, Railways Union, Bank Union, and Site Area labour union members participated in the rally.

They criticised the government and said that labourers had pinned great hopes on the government but the government gave them nothing except disappointments.

They said people were committing suicides due to poverty and selling their children as they could not afford their proper upbringing. They demanded of the government to control price hike. Later, the protesters staged a sit-in outside the press club.

In Larkana, Wapda workers took out a procession. They staged a sit-in and burnt tyres outside the Jinnah Bagh.

They said the government had increased 20 per cent salaries but the prices had increased 200 per cent.