LAHORE, April 13: Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi has said the government is taking steps for providing a safe working environment to workers and increasing the job opportunities.

Talking to a delegation of the Pakistan Workers Confederation here on Sunday, the chief minister said steps were being taken for providing the latest medical treatment facilities to the workers and their families besides modern education to their children.

He said the government would not only make the Workers Welfare Fund and Social Security more beneficial to the workers and their families, but would also procure additional funds from the federal government for ensuring completion of all new welfare projects in time.

He said the government was trying to solve the problem of growing unemployment by encouraging the establishment of new industries.

He appreciated the contribution being made by the workers to the development of the country and assured the delegation leaders that he would hold another meeting with them for a discussion on the problems being faced by the workers.

PWC secretary-general Khurshid Ahmad and other delegation leaders urged the chief minister to take steps for controlling the growing unemployment among the youth and unchecked increase in the prices of consumer goods.

The delegation also stressed the need for steps to check accidents at places of work and incidence of vocational diseases by ensuring the compliance of the prescribed health and safety standards by the employers. They said the standard of medical treatment facilities for workers and educational opportunities for their children should be improved.

Labour Minister Akhtar Husain Rizvi and Labour secretary Mohammed Iqbal were also present on the occasion.