KARACHI: Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Saturday asked the federal government to direct the Federal Board of Revenue to stop collection of the Workers Welfare Fund immediately and the funds collected so far should be transferred to Sindh government.

He said this while addressing the distribution ceremony of Benazir Mazdoor Card organised by the labour department here at the CM House. The ceremony was attended by Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, provincial ministers, industrialist, labour leaders and workers.

Mr Bhutto-Zardari said that the PPP government in Sindh was observing Labour Day by launching the ‘Benazir Mazdoor Card’ under which workers would be able to avail all necessary benefits and facilities such as education, health, marriage grants, financial assistance, scholarships and pensions.

Govt-IMF deal criticised

The PPP chairman criticised the deal between the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and observed that it had badly affected industrial growth. “When industrial growth is stopped employment opportunities shrink,” he said, adding: “Today thousands of workers have been rendered jobless because the industrial production has declined.”

Bilawal says workers will get pensions, marriage grants, financial assistance and scholarships for children

He congratulated the provincial government for launching the Benazir Mazdoor Card and directed the chief minister to enhance its benefits.

Addressing the ceremony, CM Shah said that his government believed in serving the poorest of the poor, including vulnerable segments of the society and was committed to provide them their due status and respect.

He said that under the 18th Amendment the subject of ‘Labour’ had been devolved to the provinces.

He added that the Sindh government had enacted 16 laws to protect the rights of workers.

He added that his government, on the instruction of the PPP chairman, decided that the social security would be made universal. “The scope and coverage of social security will also be extended to all workers as well as employees, including self-employed, domestic and home-based workers,” he announced.

According to the concept of Universalisation of Social Security in Sindh, the workers who intend to register themselves with the Sindh Employees Social Security Institution (SESSI) and pay contribution at the rate of six per cent of minimum wage fixed by the government, shall be issued a ‘Benazir Mazdoor Card’.

The CM said that SESSI entered into an agreement with the National Database and Registration Authority in September last for the issuance of a smart card known as ‘Benazir Mazdoor Card’.

Centre urged to devolve EOBI

He called for implementation of the 18th Amendment in its true letter and spirit as well as immediate devolution of the Workers Welfare Fund and Employees Old-age Benefit Institution to Sindh.

He also urged the federal government to provide its due share and also transfer assets and property to the Sindh government.

Speaking on the occasion, Labour Minister Saeed Ghani said that the number of workers in industrial units operating in the province was much higher than the registered workers. He vowed to register all the workers so that they could take benefit from the Benazir Mazdoor Card.

Published in Dawn, May 2nd, 2021