HARIPUR, Nov 2: A district-level forum, meant to protect the rights of the labour community was formed here on Monday.

The forum would comprise one representative each of the labour and workers community, lawyers, journalists, councillors and NGO activists.

This was announced at an Iftar-dinner hosted in honour of the labour community by the Sungi Development Foundation and the District Labour Rights Committee, Haripur.

Participants discussed issues involving labour rights, especially pertaining to wages, occupational safety and health.

The meeting noted with concern that because of the absence of a district-level body for rights protection, the blue-collar community was exposed to a host of problems.

Ms Gul Ambrin Minhas , tehsil councillor, said that that the group was imperative for ensuring the implementation of labour laws, adding that women workers were being deprived of their due rights.

Sheikh Javed said that there were several legislations guaranteeing of labour rights but there was a need for creating awareness among workers and labourers.

Zohra Khanum of the Farm Forestry Project, Haripur, suggested that the forum's scope should be enhanced and the entire working class should be protected against victimization.

Omar Javed Khan of Sungi said that the formation of such a forum was vital to ensure protection of labourers rights.

Among others, Omar Javed Khan of the Sungi, Syed Ibrar Shah of Rural Development Project, labour leader Mian Zahoorul Haq and Syed Mazhar Ali Shah were chosen to formulate by-laws of the committee and suggest its name by the end of the month.