QUETTA, Oct 4: Pakistan Workers Confederation Secretary Khursheed Ahmed demanded on Saturday that the government should abolish all anti-labour laws and regularize the services of those appointed on contract basis.

Speaking at a workers’ conference at the Labour Hall, he said the government was least interested in resolving the problems confronted by the working class despite the fact that labourers were playing a vital role in the development of the country.

He demanded repeal of the Industrial Relations Ordinance, 2002, the Presidential Ordinance of Special Powers, 2000, the Civil Servants Act, clause 2-A, and the Banking Companies Ordinance, clause 27-B and termed them anti-worker.

He said the labourers were facing numerous problems, including low salaries, price hike, unemployment and lack of job security. He said workers organizations in different institutions were being stopped from working.

He said the labourers could not achieve their rights without unity and a collective approach.

He opposed the privatization of profit earning national institutions like the Water and Power Development Authority, the Pakistan Telecommunication Corporation and the railways and said the government should recognize the collective bargaining agents as representatives of the labourers during the formulation of policies related to workers.