December 21, 2003

THE All Pakistan Federation of Labour (APFOL) has recently brought out a publication entitled Productive Role of Trade Unions and Industrial Relations in Pakistan. It is an all embracing and comprehensive document which traces the ups and downs of the trade union movement and industrial relations in Pakistan. It also brings out the salient features of the global labour movement and its role in a globalizing world.

At the very outset the book invites the attention of the readers to the fact, forgotten by most of us, that Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah was himself a labour leader and a great supporter of the workers’ cause. He was the elected president of the All India Postal Staff Union in 1925, which had as many as 70,000 members in its fold, representing the employees of the Postal Department of the Government of India. As a member of the Indian Legislative Assembly for over 35 years, Quaid-i-Azam had relentlessly supported the cause of workers within and outside the Assembly.

When Pakistan came into existence on August 14, 1947, the trade union movement was initially not supported by the Employers’ community. In the early 1950’s, the government itself was the employer in the railways and the telecommunications, power and such industries as were established by the Pakistan Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC). The government as an employer followed the authoritarian traditions of former British rulers in dealing with the labour problems. The employers in the private sector also followed the government and did not support the trade unions.

However, during the late 1960’s, the situation somewhat improved and the recognition of trade unions was made obligatory by law. Many employers had now started realizing the importance of a satisfied workforce for improving the productivity of labour. The decade of 1960’s witnessed more than 3.5 times increase in the number of registered trade unions (from 708 in 1960 to 2,522 in 1970) and more than hundred per cent increase in membership (from 350,604 in 1960 to 735,620 in 1970).

The decade of the 1970’s witnessed further increase in the number of trade unions and membership. The number of trade unions went up to 6,551 in 1980, whereas the membership reached nearly one million by the end of the decade of the 1970’s.

However, with the military takeover of the government in 1977, unionism went into decline. Organized labour was forbidden in much of the public sector and collective bargaining was restricted.

Even after 1988, when a civilian government took over office, trade unionism could not take off. In 2001, the number of trade unions still stood at 7,204, while the membership had remained at 1,040,303.

The government adopted the Trade Unions Act, 1926, Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 and other labour laws after the emergence of Pakistan. In 1959, the Industrial Disputes Ordinance was promulgated in the wake of Ayub Khan’s martial law regime. This ordinance replaced the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. Under the new law, workers’ strikes were banned in public utility services and employers were given the right to fire the workers.

A new industrial relations policy announced in February 1959 and a labour policy announced subsequently in 1969 stressed the importance of healthy trade unionism but remained largely ineffective due to inadequate implementation.

The PPP government of Z.A. Bhutto announced a pro-workers’ labour policy in 1972. However, a large number of employers tried to circumvent the spirit of the new labour policy by resorting to home workers and contract labour.

The labour policy of the government once again became an exercise in suppression during 1977-1988, following introduction of another martial law government.

Later, during the 11 years of democratic rule (1988-99), progress on the labour front remained largely blocked since no government could complete its full term. Besides, privatization plans and jobs losses had led to labour unrest.

A number of facilities had been agreed and a welfare package for workers had been announced during the last 3-4 years. However, it was to be seen how the new civilian political Government implemented the labour policy.

Despite so many years of frustration and tears, the workers/trade unions were not alone in their struggle. They enjoyed the support of the ILO and other UN agencies. Besides, efforts have also been afoot to seek the support of the WTO and the IFI.

In addition to the above, realization also set in that healthy industrial relations were imperative for industrial peace and higher productivity. In the last chapter of the book, the APFOL has pointed out that nearly 2000 industrial units in Pakistan, having a collective bargaining agent, had exemplary labour-management relations. This is indeed a good beginning. It is hoped that many more units would emulate the example of these 2000 units in the coming months and years.

 

Productive Role of Trade Unions and Industrial Relations in Pakistan

All Pakistan Federation of Labour, PO Box 1709, Rawalpindi Cantt

Tel: 051-5520137

265pp. Price not listed

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