LAHORE, Feb 10: The leader of a Japan International Labour Foundation delegation, Mr. Iwata, has said that good industrial relations were the key to the progress of a country.

He was speaking at the inauguration ceremony of a vocational safety and health training programme at the Bakhtiar Labour Hall here on Monday.

Mr. Iwata said that after being destroyed in the World War II, his country had made miraculous industrial progress because of the worker-employer cooperation.

He said that the Japan government had encouraged the establishment of good industrial relations between the employers and workers.

Protection of workers against vocational diseases, safety at work place and adequate social security cover had also been ensured by the government.

Pakistan Workers Confederation Secretary-General Khurshid Ahmad said that workers and employers in Pakistan should follow the Japanese example of achieving the goal of industrial progress through cooperation and consultation.

He said that the government should make arrangements for the training of workers in health and safety at work place as a safeguard against the accidents at work.

He said that the government and employers should realize that human life was invaluable and required protection at workplace.

All Pakistan Federation of Trade Unions president Haji Muhammad Amin Rathore said that the workers should strengthen their trade unions for securing the rights of fair wages, social security and safety at work place.

Federation’s addition secretary-general Osama Tariq said that the employers should know that good working conditions and safety at work place increased the productivity of the workers significantly.