PESHAWAR: The participants of the rallies taken out on Labour Day demanded of the government to increase minimum wages of workers in the face of crushing price hike.
In the provincial capital, PPP provincial chief Humayun Khan led a big rally on the GT Road to express solidarity with the labourers.
The participants of the rally walked from Hashtnagri to Chowk Yadgar and chanted slogans against price hike and economic policies of the government.
Rallies and seminars held across KP to mark Labour Day
Speaking on the occasion, Humayun Khan said that they were rejecting the failed policies of the PTI government, privatisation, price hike, downsizing and increase in utility bills.
“Where are the 10 million jobs announced by Prime Minister Imran Khan,” he questioned.
PPP spokesperson Senator Rubina Khalid said that her party would stand with the labourers to guard them from the anti-poor policies of the government.
Several other groups and organisations also held rallies in the provincial capital and other parts of the province to mark the day.
All Pakistan Wapda Hydroelectric Workers Union held a rally from Nishtarabad to Hashtnagri Chowk and demanded increasing the wages of labourers to Rs30,000 per month.
Pakistan Mazdoor Kisan Party also arranged rallies and gatherings to mark Labour Day and demanded increasing minimum wages by 100 per cent.
All Pakistan Federation of Labour Durrani Group also took out a rally from Rehmatullah Durrani Chowk to Peshawar Press Club.
Addressing the rally, the speakers said that labourers were forced to work for 16 hours a day just to take home some morsels of bread.
Bonded Labourer Liberation Front also held a protest outside Peshawar Press Club.
Insaf Labour Wing also held a meeting at Hashtangri Chowk that was addressed by Kamran Khan Bangash, the special assistant to chief minister on IT. He said that government would strive to protect the rights of labourers.
In Mohamand tribal district, Pakistan Red Crescent Society arranged a walk.
PRCS volunteers, PTI leader Sajjad Khan and local journalists gathered in Mohmand Press Club to mark the day.
The participants of the walk were holding placards and banners inscribed with pro-workers slogans. They said that prices of daily use items were increased but labourers were paid minimum wages. They said that they were facing difficulties in meeting their routine expenditures in the prevailing situation.
In Lower Dir, PPP arranged a walk in Mayar Jandol to mark the day.
Scores of labourers and their relatives participated in the walk along with their pushcarts and other equipment.
Speaking on the occasion, PPP leader Shafiullah said that labourers were the real heroes of the country as they played a vital role in constructing buildings.
In Haripur, Hazara Labour Federation and Workers Welfare Society separately organised seminars where the problems faced by the workers were highlighted.
Published in Dawn, May 2nd, 2019
