KARACHI, April 23: Some 40 trade unions have formed a Joint Coordination Council of Trade Unions to struggle for the rights of workers.

They have demanded that trade union activities be allowed all over the country, announced the Council chief, Haji Yunus, here at a press conference on Tuesday.

The new body has been formed to resolve serious issues being faced by the workers.

The issues were lifting of the ban on trade union activities; reservation of seats for farmers and workers in the parliament; acceptance of salary package and charter of demand of the workers of those organizations that are being privatized before their privatization; presidential orders 2000 and 2001 relating to the workers be withdrawn; all those workers who had been sacked under downsizing, rightsizing, etc. be reinstated; union leaders who had been sacked for taking part in union activities be reinstated; all the facilities of the workers that had been withdrawn be restored; retirement benefits which had been withdrawn be restored; and withdrawal of anti-labour laws, etc.

A delegation of the council, led by its chief, also met the Sindh Governor, Mohammedmian Soomro, on Tuesday to discuss the issues with him. They informed the governor of the victimization of workers by management in various organizations.

The governor assured the workers that the government was formulating a comprehensive labour policy that would be announced soon. He assured the delegation that it would be ensured that the workers were not exploited and their rights were safe and secure.

Mazdoor Tehreek: The chief of the Pakistan Mazdoor Tehreek, Maqbool Ghauri, has said after winning the referendum President Pervez Musharraf would become more powerful and can take tough decisions needed to improve the law and order situation and control inflation. He said workers would vote for the president.