LAHORE: The Punjab government on Monday released Rs3.5 billion workers welfare fund for the labourers of the province.

Punjab Minister for Labour and Human Resources Ansar Majeed Khan distributed cheques among the workers at a ceremony at Bata Factory. He said the government had given gifts to employees of new year in the shape of Rs3.5 billion grant of workers welfare fund. He handed over cheques for Rs21 million to workers, including 185 cheques for scholarship, 77 for marriage and 11 for death grant.

He called the release of the fund a big achievement of his government, saying that they would address all pending issues of the employees.

He said the government would also ensure wages to employees before time under the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief Minister Sardra Usman Buzdar.

The minister said they would make social security cards more powerful than identity card for workers and there was sheer injustice with workers for not implementing the welfare fund even after 18th amendment.

He said labour policy was a big challenge of 100 days agenda and they would assure the labour to solve all issues at any cost.

Published in Dawn, January 22nd, 2019