KARACHI: Labour leaders have urged the federal and the Sindh governments to avoid politicising the EOBI and Workers Welfare Fund issues and bring reforms in service delivery of these social security institutions.

Speaking at an online consultation meeting on ‘Future of workers’ welfare institutions like EOBI & WWF’ organised by Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (Piler) on Thursday, labour leaders deplored that the existing social security institutions had failed to serve majority of workers.

According to Labour Force Survey 2017-18 there were 65.5 million labourers in the country, out of which only 8.6m workers were registered with the Employees Old-age Benefit Institution (EOBI), which is less than eight per cent, said Piler joint director Zulfiqar Shah.

He said the number of workers drawing pensions from the EOBI is still very low as the institution’s record indicated that only 652,000 persons were drawing pensions.

He said the situation of the provincial social security institutions was also not encouraging.

Senior economist Dr Kaiser Bengali pointed out that despite the fact EOBI remained at the federal level since its inception, its performance remained poor. A large portion of the funds collected by EOBI and other workers’ welfare schemes are spent on salaries and allowances of officers who run the institution.

According to him only two per cent of the collected funds should be spent on establishment expenses of social security institutions.

Karamat Ali, Piler executive director, said under Article 38 of the Constitution every citizen should be provided social security facilities like health, education and residence.

“We have to move towards universalisation of social security,” he added.

He said the social security institutions were totally corrupted and their attitude towards common people was of colonial style.

Nasir Mansoor of National Trade Union Federation said that after 18th Amendment, EOBI was not devolved to provinces.

Labour leader Qamarul Hassan underlined the need for devolution of social security institutions.

Trade union leader Liaquat Sahi said EOBI matter was complicated and technical, but it should not be politicised and should be discussed in Council of Common Interests.

He said after 18th Amendment, the Sindh government has made only laws but no serious measure has been taken to implement them.

Farhat Perveen of NOW Communities said role of provincial labour department should be strengthened.

Published in Dawn, December 26th, 2020