HYDERABAD, Dec 20: The pressure of capitalists is coming in the way of implementation of Industrial Relations Bill 2008 passed by the National Assembly, said provincial president of the National Labour Federation Rana Mehmood.

Speaking to union leaders of Hyderabad and Kotri here on Saturday, he said that though the bill was adopted by the Assembly but President Asif Ali Zardari returned it without signing it.

He questioned as to why federal labour minister was silent and not clarifying the move of President.

He said that the IRO-2002 was already repealed and in the absence of relevant laws, the industrial workers and trade unions were facing problems.

“It is an irony that the working class was not being provided relief even after the PPP government assumed the power,” Mr Khan said. He said that the prices have skyrocketed while minimum wage law was still not implemented.

He said lawlessness was the order of the day in Sindh, favourites being appointed and gas and power loadshedding making the mockery of whatever sanity was left.

He said that the majority of workers of Kotri, Nooriabad and Hyderabad industrial estates were given appointment letters without implementation of labour laws in industrial units. Workers were being exploited due to contract system and no relief under social security scheme was coming their way, the NLF leader said.

He demanded giving preference to children of retired and expired employees in jobs, implementation of labour laws and an end to illegal lockout of Taj Biscuit Factory Hyderabad.