PESHAWAR: The labourers have urged the government to implement its decision regarding minimum wages, regularise all contractual employees in various departments and ensure free medical and education facilities to them and their children.

The demands were made by the participants of different processions taken out in provincial metropolis on Sunday in connection with May Day to remember the sacrifices of Chicago workers and vowed to accomplish their mission.

The main procession was taken out on the call of All Pakistan Workers Confederation from Peshawar Press Club that was led by Wapda Hydro Electric Workers Union provincial general secretary Mustajab Mazdoryar, deputy chairman Ali Syed, deputy secretary Liaquat Ali and information secretary Gohar Ali Gohar. The procession turned into a public meeting outside Governor’s House where the participants chanted slogans for solution to their problems.

The workers of Pakistan Railways Workers Union also took out a rally from the press club and marched till Governor’s House. The rally was led by Ashfaq Bacha. The participants of the rally were holding banners and placards inscribed with demands for implementation of government’s decision regarding minimum wages, provision of all incentives to workers and quota in jobs for the employees.

Another procession was staged at Bacha Khan Chowk which was led by Adviser to Chief Minister Arif Yousuf, PWD Labour Union president Mukhtiar Hussain, chairman Malik Nisar Khan and Ijaz Ahmed.

Rallies taken out in various districts to mark Labour Day

Several resolutions were unanimously adopted by the workers, who demanded Rs2,0000 as minimum wages, provision of medical treatment and free education to their children, quota in jobs for workers and increase in pension.

The workers also demanded betterment of working conditions, especially for female workers, saying the government should take stern action against those, who were involved in child labour.

They said that salaries of workers should be equalised in public and private sectors so that they could meet their routine expenditures. They also advised the government against privatisation of different national institutions including Pakistan Railways, Wapda and PIA.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pervez Khattak, Peshawar Electric Supply Company chief executive officer Anwarul Haq Yousufzai,Qaumi Watan Party chairman Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherapao in their separate statements appreciated the workers for making efforts to get their rights.

In Swabi, Pakistan Workers Federation (PWF) and other organisations of workers held a rally to mark Labour Day.

The workers gathered in the district headquarters and marched on different roads, holding placards and banners and chanting slogans for their rights. The procession turned into a public meeting outside the office of tehsil municipal administration. On the occasion, speakers criticised entrepreneurs of Gadoon Amazai Industrial Estate (GAIE), who, according to them, threatened the workers that their two-day wages would be deducted if they took off on May Day.

Aslam Adil, president of Awami Labour Union Sinohydro, Tarbela Dam, and Shaukat Anjum, national coordinator of PWF, addressed the gathering.

In Mansehra, the employees of Utility Stores Corporation threatened to launch agitation if the management terminated services of daily wagers working in the corporation for the last one decade or more.

“I warn the management of corporation not to terminate services of daily wagers otherwise we would resist any such move with a full might,” said Arif Hussain Shah, central chairman of All Pakistan Workers Union Utility Stores Corporation, while addressing a convention held in connection with May Day on Sunday.

In Karak, United Workers Welfare Association took out a rally to mark Labour Day.

After the rally the labourers gathered at Noor Sali Khan Market in Sabirabad where district president of the organisation Malik Naveed and general secretary Taj Ali addressed them.

Published in Dawn, May 2nd, 2016