HYDERABAD, March 2: District Naib Nazim Zafar Rajput has assured labour leaders that councillors of the Haq Parast Group will extend their support in getting a legislation passed if tabled by labour councillors to protect workers’ rights.

He was speaking at a seminar on problems of workers of the bangle industry, organized by the Pak Social Welfare Society here on Tuesday night.

Mr Rajput said the Muttahida Qaumi Movement would work for resolving problems of the deprived class.

Expressing concern over exploitation of workers in the bangle industry of Hyderabad, he said it was causing loss to the national exchequer and discouraging the skilled labour force of the district.

He said problems of workers pertained to federal and provincial government departments but the district government would provide legal protection to workers within the framework of the district council.

The naib nazim called upon legal experts, labour leaders and labour councillors to prepare a draft paper and introduce it in the district council to ensure legal cover to workers.

He said awareness about rights among stakeholders was essential. He said NGOs struggling for workers’ rights could play a vital role in this regard and they were in touch with national and international labour organizations.

Lauding the role of the Pak Social Welfare Society in helping people of backward areas, Mr Jamil said the district government would encourage NGOs by providing 80 per cent financial support for their development projects under the Citizens Community Board to provide basic facilities to people and ensure public participation in development works.

He asked NGOs to come forward and join hands with the district government for the welfare of the deprived segment of the society.

Referring to problems presented by speakers at the seminar, he gave an assurance that the district government would do its best to provide health and education facilities in identified areas on priority basis.

Earlier, Pak Social Welfare Society executive director Abdul Ghaffar Sherwani listed achievements of his organization which included provision of first aid, civil defence, vocational training to workers, establishment of learning centres, primary health care centre and launching of a small credit scheme for skill development of workers.

He said that after conducting a survey, his organization had prepared a strategy to get problems of the bangle industry resolved. He called for implementing labour laws in letter and spirit to get workers’ problems pertaining to social security, old-age benefits, provision of safety measures, implementation of the wage award and elimination of illegal practices by industrialists resolved.

Latifabad Union Council-13 Nazim Aijaz Shaikh and district council members Jawed Kardar, Parveen Lodhi, Ilyas Khokhar, Nizamuddin Shaikh, Shabana and Moin Khan also spoke on the occasion.