LAHORE: The Strengthening Participatory Organization (SPO), concluded a two day workshop on Wednesday, which highlighted issues faced by laborers in general. Speakers in the workshop said that the labor force needed to adopt newer policies according to the requirement of the day. They said that the media and civil society can play a vital role in this regard therefore these two important pillars needed to be more mobilized. They added that Pakistan had a strong history regarding labor movements and activists have long tales of their struggles and sacrifices.
They said that although laborers had tried their utmost in every movement to revive their rights they still faced new challenges. The speakers condemned the economic exploitation of the labor force in all forms and demanded that they be given their rights. Promises are made at every forum but practically nothing is given to workers, said speakers. Moreover women who were even more vulnerable than the male labourer, and in many cases did double their work, should be paid what they deserved. They ought to be given a proper workplace to express their potential with strict action taken against sexual harassment. The workshop was addressed by renowned speakers, including Zahoor Awan of Pakistan Workers Federation, Dr Robina Sehgal, Hussain Naqi and Regional Director SPO Salman Abid.
