LAHORE, Sept 3: The managers of only 2.5 per cent of the industrial units in the city district have filed declarations of compliance with labour laws under the new industrial policy of the Punjab government despite a month’s extension in the period allowed for the purpose.
District Labour Officer Javed Gill told Dawn on Wednesday that 1,000 declaration forms had been distributed in the city district, 882 among the industrial units registered under the Factories Act and 118 among others. Only 25 had been filled and returned so far.
He said that almost all the 25 declarations had been submitted by multinational companies known to be implementing all the labour laws in letter and spirit. The remaining 975 forms had not been returned to date. The situation would be reported to the District Human Resource Board at its next monthly meeting.
He said that a simple declaration form had been distributed among the managements of industrial units under the provisions of new industrial policy requiring least interference in the affairs of industry and promoting a self-monitoring culture for labour laws’ implementation. The managements were asked to declare which provisions of labour laws they had implemented.
He said that specific questions had been asked in respect of the manufacturing process, issuance of appointment letters to employees, payment of minimum wages, bonus, gratuity and overtime and the provident fund, social security and old-age benefits and leave facilities for employees. They were also asked to provide health and safety measures adopted for prevention of industrial accidents.
He said that the managements employing female workers were asked to declare whether they allowed the maternity leave facility. The managements of industrial units employing more than 49 workers were asked whether or not they had provided the group insurance cover to their employees.
He said that the managements were asked to display the declarations outside the units for information of the workers. He said that the industrial units were asked to file the declarations by July 31 in the beginning. The last date was extended to Aug 31 later on to allow more time to the managements for filing declarations — the proforma for which could be filled within five minutes.