LAHORE, Oct 29: Participants at a seminar unanimously demanded of the Punjab government on Tuesday to direct the quarters concerned to register the entire brick kiln workers and issue them social security cards under the labour laws.

The seminar was organised by the Bonded Labour Liberation Front in collaboration with the Actionaid-Pakistan at a local hotel.

MPA Dr Farzana said since the workers were the spinal cord of the economy of the country, a plan should be made to increase their maximum wages.

She also sought implementation of the government’s recent notification regarding increase in workers’ wages.

Front’s secretary Syeda Ghulam Fatima highlighted the importance of social security cards through which the brick kiln and other workers could be provided medical treatment free-of-cost.

She requested the social security institutions to visit the brick kilns, register the workers and issue cards to them, including women workers, in collaboration with kiln owners.

She appealed to Dr Farzana Nazir to highlight the issues of brick kiln workers in the provincial assembly and request the chief minister to eradicate the bonded labour in Punjab.

Punjab Employees Social Security Institution’s (PESSI) Vice-Commissioner Shahid Adil said the department was committed to serving workers by all means. “We have already deputed mobile teams which have started registering the workers. The teams are also providing medical facilities to workers at their doorsteps,” he said.

Programme Manager Mehar Safdar Ali appreciated PESSI for launching on-the-spot registration of brick kiln workers.