PESHAWAR: Representatives of different trade bodies have demanded reinstatement of workers laid off by local and foreign firms in the province, and urged the government to implement the fixed minimum wage policy in factories.

Speaking at a news conference at the Peshawar Press Club on Monday, Ibrarullah, president of Mehnat Kash Labour Federation, an amalgamation of various labour organisations, said the provincial government had failed to implement the labour laws. He warned if the demands were not accepted till March 20, the labourers’ bodies would hold a sit-in outside the provincial assembly building.

The federation’s general secretary Sherzada, Tila Mohammad from National Labour Federation, Shakeel Wahidullah of Mazdoor Kissan Party, Awami Workers Party representative Haider Zaman, JI leader Ameer Alam Khan, and PTI labour wing leader Tahir Raees were also present on the occasion.

Ibrarullah said the local and foreign firms continued to exploit the workers, but the provincial labour department had not taken any notice of the violation of relevant laws. He asked the provincial government to take pragmatic steps to end exploitation of workers, especially industrial workers.

He demanded early reinstatement of more than 280 workers who have been laid off by three firms, including a multinational company, in the province, saying termination of regular employees and appointment of workers on contract basis in their place was unjust and uncalled-for. He alleged that most of the workers of factories were unregistered, adding the managements violated the labour laws in the appointments of workers.

He alleged that activities of labour unions had been banned under a strategy of labour department and the factories’ management.

Expressing concern over formation of wage board, the labour federation’s president said the labour department had failed to implement fixed minimum wage in industries and other institutions across the province. He said a large number of workers had lost their lives due to lack of proper security measures in factories, whereas no health insurance facility had been provided to the labourers.

Published in Dawn, March 14th, 2017