HYDERABAD: To mark the International Labour Day on Tuesday, political parties, trade unions, workers’ organisations, human and civil rights bodies and welfare groups held rallies, staged sit-ins and organised protests all over Sindh to highlight the plight of workers.

Workers raised slogans against privatisation, demanding job security and rights in line with different labour laws.

They also demanded raise in workers’ salary and various facilities in line with the labour laws of the country.

They also paid tributes to Chicago workers who sacrificed their lives for obtaining rights of labourers.

In Hyderabad, various trade unions staged rallies to mark the day outside the local press club under the sweltering sun as the mercury hit 47 degree Celsius.

The All Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric Workers Union (CBA) in collaboration with the Pakistan Workers Confederation (PWC) staged a big protest rally to mark May 1.

Activists of the Barabari Party Pakistan and Sindhi Mazdoor Tehreek staged separate rallies.

The HMC Staff Union, Pakistan Trade Union Defence Campaign and All Pakistan Nadra Employees Union from Hyder Chowk marched to the local press club, carrying placards and banners inscribed with pro-worker slogans.

The Sindh National Tehreek organised a seminar to mark the day.

SUKKUR: Rallies were taken out and other events were held in different towns of Sukkur, Ghotki, Kandhkot-Kashmore and Jacobabad district.

According to reports, separate rallies were taken out by the Sindh Taraqqi-pasand Party (STP), Qaumi Awami Party, Sindh United Party and Pakistan Peoples Party in Kandhkot from the Library Chowk and press club to the Clock Tower. In Ghotki district, different rallies of the labourers from Ubauro, Daharki and other towns were taken out to Mirpur Mathelo where an event was held under the banner of the Watan Dost Mazdoor Federation.

In Jacobabad, the STP took out a rally from the party district office.

In Sukkur, different labour organisations took out a joint rally from Hira Medical Centre to the Clock Tower Roundabout.

The labour wing of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Sukkur also held an event.

MIRPURKHAS: Labour Day was observed here on Tuesday like other areas of the country as various rallies were taken out by various organisations from the railway station roundabout.

SHIKARPUR: Many social organisations, political parties and individual social workers took out rallies from various places of the city to Lakhi Dar Clock Tower and also held programmes at various places to express solidarity with workers and labourers.

BADIN: Here tributes were paid to the Chicago workers by several labour organisations.

A rally was staged in front of the local press club, with activists carrying placards and banners inscribed with slogans paying homage to the workers.

KHAIRPUR: The Muttahida Mazdoor Federation of Khairpur took out a rally from the Civic Centre Chowk to demand rights for workers and labourers.

Later, a public gathering was held at Phool Bagh Khairpur. Addressing the event, speakers said that a policy should be framed under which the concept of keeping labour as slaves must be curbed.

Several other labour organisations held rallies and organised programmes to mark Labour Day.

MITHI: Rallies and walks were organised in Mithi and other towns of the desert district.

A large number of STP workers took out a rally in Mithi town to pay tributes to the labourers who had laid down their lives in Chicago for their rights.

Published in Dawn, May 2nd, 2018