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FAISALABAD, Sept 23: The All-Pakistan Federation of Trade Unions, International Labour Organization and other trader bodies have demanded of the government to provide basic facilities to industrial workers and enhance their salaries and emoluments in proportion to price spiral.
Speaking to the participants in a two-day seminar on "Organizing Workers in the Informal Economy" organized under the aegis of the federation and the ILO here on Thursday, the labour leaders observed that the industrialists must ensure better working atmosphere and provision of legitimate rights, and improve pay structure for the labourers to meet the challenges of the WTO regime.
They said the quality in the industrial and commercial sector could not be achieved without taking workers into confidence and protecting their rights according to the industrial and labour policies.
They stressed the need for resolving the workers' problems through dialogues, organizing the informal sector, increase in wages for industrial workers in accordance with inflation rate, medical facilities and abolition of industrial ILO-2002.
They demanded that the government implemented suggestions and proposals of ILO Conventions of 1987 and 1998 in letter and spirit for formation of trade unions in units of power looms, hosiery, farming and other unorganized sectors, provision of safety equipment for the labourers and pollution free environment in the industrial and commercial concerns.
Through a resolution, they expressed concern and deep grief over the death of two industrial workers due to electric shock in a factory and death of a carpenter in Lalian (Sargodha).
They demanded compensation for the legal heirs of the deceased workers. Labour leaders Haji Abdul Jabbar, Osama Tariq, Bashir Shakir, ILO representative Paung Silahan and other unionists were prominent among the speakers.
LIFE TERM: Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Musharraf Hassan Sumra on Thursday awarded life imprisonment and Rs100,000 fine to a man and his son, who had killed a villager over some minor issue.
According to prosecution, Safdar Husain and his son Ali Raza shot dead their neighbour Muhammad Anwar at Nishatabad about a year ago over a minor issue. The court, however, acquitted Shafqat Bibi, the wife of Safdar, his daughter Shazia and another son, Ali Husain, giving them the benefit of the doubt.
