LAHORE, July 20: The European Union (EU) has started monitoring and evaluation of its funded labour welfare projects being executed with the ActionAid Pakistan and local partners in Punjab and Sindh provinces.

“The evaluation aims at reviewing the projects to improve the working conditions of brick kilns’ laborers in the country,” EU Monitoring Programme representative Mario Vottero Makuc told Dawn on Friday.

Mr Makuc, who arrived here to monitor and evaluate the project titled ‘Support Social Protection and Decent Work for Brick Kiln Workers’, said the project was launched over a year ago in Lahore, Pakpattan and Multan districts of Punjab and Hyderabad, Tando Allah Yar and Mirpur Khas in Sindh focusing labour issues.

He said the EU desired that workers be paid minimum wages as notified by the government and respect at workplaces. He urged the government to provide minimum wages, social security cards, computerised national identity cards, medical facilities, old age benefits and other rights to them under the labour laws.

About the impact of the project activities, he said had observed in Lahore brick kilns that workers were now aware of their rights. “The workers, who were previously afraid of voicing for their rights, have no started fighting for their rights through participating in various rallies, processions and other activities,” he said.

He said the role government departments, civil society and media was encouraging in the implementation of projects. He said he had also inaugurated latrines and hand pumps at brick kilns.

He said he also met District Officer (Labour) Sheikh Muhammad Sabir and found their working supportive to the EU funded programmes.