ISLAMABAD: Chairman of the National Industrial Relations Commission (NIRC) retired Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui has said he would make all out effort to expand the legal cover meant for workmen to all workers as an overwhelming majority was without any lawful protection.

Justice Siddiqui announced that a national seminar would be organised in Islamabad on May 1, in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation (ILO), to address and propose solutions for the challenges affecting employer-worker relations in Pakistan.

Speaking at a media briefing alongside commission members, Justice Siddiqui emphasised the urgent need to improve legal protections for millions of workers across various sectors.

He said out of 70 million workers in the country, only 14 per cent were classified as regular workers under current labour laws.

“We aim to bring other categories of workers, including private bike riders and informal sector employees, under the umbrella of legal protection,” he added.

The seminar, scheduled to take place at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA), will host representatives from labour unions across the country, as well as employers from diverse industries including media, telecom and hospitality.

High-level dignitaries such as Supreme Court and Lahore High Court judges, the attorney general, and federal ministers are also expected to participate. Justice Siddiqui highlighted the evolving role of the NIRC, stating that while the commission previously focused mainly on judicial matters, it is now working on broader goals, including fostering better industrial relations through dialogue and reform.

He said the number of cases filed with the NIRC had increased due to restored public confidence, but thanks to the introduction of video-link hearings, the backlog of pending cases had been significantly reduced.

Published in Dawn, April 10th, 2025