President pledges to give rights to labourers

President Asif Ali Zardari, reiterating government’s commitment to honour labour and working people and give them their due rights, has stated that the Pakistan People’s party (PPP) derives its strength from the working classes.
“Both Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto believed that the PPP derived its strength from the working classes of Pakistan and they always fought for their rights and well-being”, the president said in his message on the occasion of Labour Day, being observed worldwide on May 1 in memory of Chicago martyrs.
He said, “let us reiterate our pledge once again to honour labour and working peoples and give them their rights”.
He said, “Following in the footsteps of our great leaders, the present government has also taken various practical steps to improve the lot of workers and restore the dignity and honour of labour”.
The president mentioned that after restoring the sacked employees, the government has regularised contract employees. “Now a worker can no longer be dismissed from service for no reason, as was the practice in the past”.
“The workers have been given the right to seek legal remedies against dismissal. Trade union activities have been restored”, he maintained.
He also mentioned the present government’s initiative of introducing Benazir Employees Stock Option Scheme, offering 12 percent stock shares to workers in state run enterprises. “It benefits 500,000 families. For the first time, workers have been made part of the national productive process, through ownership”, he added.
The president said these measures were a manifestation of the government’s sincere efforts in improving the lot of the working classes and protecting them from exploitation. He said, “May 1 reminds us of our pledges made to labour, workers, peasants and the fisher folk that we shall not abandon them in their struggle for dignity, honour and rightful place in society”.
He said further that despite efforts to undermine the meaning surrounding the event by various undemocratic governments all over the world, May Day festivities and demonstrations continue to be held in countries around the world.
It continues to be a major annual event to mark the struggle for workers’ rights, international working-class solidarity; peace, and global justice, he added. “Let us also pay tributes to the Chicago martyrs for their struggle against oppression and for ending socio-economic deprivations a century ago. They did not die in vain”, the president said.