LAHORE, Sept 26: Participants in a consultative meeting unanimously agreed on Wednesday to initiate efforts for giving special judicial powers to the Punjab Social Security Institution (PESSI) so that it could resolve issues between the department and brick kiln owners for issuing social security cards to workers.

The meeting, which was attended by labour activists, PESSI officials and other stakeholders, was organised under the aegis of the Support Decent Work Project in association with the Bonded Labour Liberation Front here, a press release issued on Wednesday said.

PESSI Deputy Director Waheed Sheikh said the existing relevant laws, which allowed the department to award a punishment of just three months or impose a fine of Rs4,000 on those avoiding registration of their workplaces and workers with the department, needed to be amended so that officials concerned could have more powers for registering brick kilns and workers.

BLLF Secretary-General Syeda Ghulam Fatima urged labour activists and organisations to evolve a joint strategy for the issuance of social security cards to workers by PESSI.

She appreciated PESSI Commissioner Dr Sajid Yoosfani and other senior officials for issuing immediate directions in writing to officials concerned for bringing workers into social security cover.

Support Decent Work Project Manager Mehr Safdar Ali urged PESSI to first conduct a survey of brick kilns and then launch an effective campaign to issue social security cards to workers under the law.

Mutahidda Labour Federation Punjab President Altaf Baloch appealed to labour and social security departments to show sincerity with workers rather than to industrialists or brick kiln owners.