KARACHI, June 9: The National Trade Union Federation Pakistan on Friday demanded a 50 per cent enhancement in the salary of workers and to revise salaries after every six months keeping in view the rate of inflation.

Speaking at a press conference at Karachi Press Club, NTUF leaders Salim Raza, Ghani Zaman Awan, Taj Mohammad and others further demanded that minimum wage of the worker be fixed at Rs6,000 per month and minimum pension of a retired worker be fixed at Rs3,000 per month.

Stressing the need for enforcement of labour laws, they said that the federation had sent a memorandum to the government institutions and the members of parliament to muster their support in their struggle.

They said that price-hike and unemployment had made the life of working class miserable as every year over 0.1 million workers were being rendered jobless from privatisation, rightsizing and downsizing and over 7,500 factories were closed. They said every year the industry absorbed hardly 7,5000 new jobs whereas over 100,000 persons entered the job market.

They said that over 52 per cent people were living below the poverty line and increasing unemployment was adding to the street crimes and enhancing the rate of suicide.

Pointing out that during last three years the salaries of the government functionaries had increased by 45 per cent and the wages of unskilled labour by 60 per cent, they demanded similar enhancements to the but skilled and semi-skilled workers who were totally ignored despite the fact that their strength in formal sector was 3.5 million and in informal sector 8.4 million.

They said in the budget 2006-07 pension was increased from Rs 1000 to Rs 1300 which is sheer injustice, Similarly, in the profit of the company workers, share was fixed at Rs 12000 which should be increased to Rs 20000.