KARACHI: Efforts to suppress the democratic right of unionisation are tantamount to sabotaging industrial peace and stability, declared the National Trade Union Federation (NTUF) during a protest rally held from Regal Chowk to the Karachi Press Club.
The rally witnessed participation from workers across various industrial zones, as well as representatives from political, social, and human rights organisations. The leaders and representatives from various organisations denounced the increasing retaliatory measures against workers struggling to unionise.
NTUF general secretary Nasir Mansoor criticised the criminalisation of unionisation efforts, while basic worker entitlements like minimum wages, social security, and adherence to legal working hours were disregarded.
Qazi Khizar of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan affirmed that labour rights are fundamental human rights and that violations contravene both Pakistani law and international conventions. He said the HRCP pledged to continue advocating against such injustices.
IndustriALL Global Union Co-Chair Zehra Khan stressed that Pakistan’s industrial advancement hinges on ending anti-worker practices.She criticised the misrepresentation of legitimate demands of workers as anti-state activities and urged international brands and their local suppliers to uphold national and global labour regulations.
She warned that if local employers continue to suppress labourers through intimidation and financial influence, workers will raise their voice internationally.
The protest concluded with a list of key demands, including an immediate halt to the suppression of unionisation efforts, investigation and punishment of those involved in forming fake unions, reinstatement of dismissed workers, cessation of threats and harassment against union leaders and an end to police bias in favour of factory owners.
They also demanded abolition of exploitative contractual employment, consultation with labour organisations regarding the 2025 Labour Code, enforcement of labour standards under GSP+, the Pakistan Accord, and Due Diligence laws, and investigation and prosecution of alleged corruption in labour welfare institutions.
Published in Dawn, July 28th, 2025