All Pakistan Trade Union Federation (APTUF) on Thursday held a protest rally at the Lahore Press Club against high inflation, economic crises in Railway, lack of law and order, anti-worker clauses in the 2011 Industrial Relations Ordinance and implementation of minimum wages in which more than 100 workers from the formal and informal sectors participated.
APTUF General Secretary Rubina Jamil, Fazqal-e-Wahid President Sultan Khan, Shabir Shah, Main Rafique, Muhammad Ilyas, Nasir Gulzar, Zaheer-ud-Din Babur said the so-called democratic government had adopted imperialist policies, which were anti-worker and the common man.
The Punjab government had implemented Punjab Industrial Relation Act 2011 which restricted the trade unions’ rights, while there was still a ban on labour inspection, they said. They added that the ruling government was responsible for the worst crises in Railways, and thousands of TLA workers in the Railways were still working as contract workers.
Speakers said that while the government had announced Rs 7000 as the minimum wage, the policy had not been implemented, and workers were getting paid less than Rs 6000.
APTUF has decided to launch a campaign for the acceptance of workers’ demands.
Speakers said they were concerned about the situation of 20 million home-based workers, 70 percent of whom were females getting very low wages.
They said labour laws were not being applied, female workers were facing sexual harassment and working conditions were miserable, APTUF demanded the government pay immediate attention to legalising home-based workers, and abolishment of contract and bonded labour.
Rubina said they condemned the drone attacks in which 35,000 innocent people had lost their lives.
Speakers said that if the government did not accept their demands they would agitate nationwide and hold rallies for the acceptance of the working-class’ demands.
