Different political parties and labour organisations took to the Mall Road to observe the International Labour Day on Friday. Hundreds of labourers and rights activists held rallies, which began from different areas of the city and converged at the Faisal Chowk, to pay rich tribute to the labourers of Chicago who sacrificed their lives while fighting for their rights.
A rally organised by the Working Women Helpline, Awami Workers’ Party, Ittehad Labour Union Carpet Industry Pakistan, Pakistan Bhatta Mazdoor Union, National Database Registration Authority Employees Union, and Mutaihda Labour Union marched from Lahore Press Club to Faisal Chowk.
The participants carried red flags, banners and placards inscribed with slogans such as “Red Salute to the Chicago Martyrs”, “Stop State Terrorism against Women”, “Stop Privatisation” and “The Revolution Will Come”. They demanded of the authorities to ensure enforcement of labour laws.
They also demanded that the minimum wage be raised to Rs 25, 000 per month, social security cards be issued to all workers and rates set by the government for bricks kilns workers be enforced.
A rally organised by the All Pakistan Trade Unions’ Federation marched from Hamdard Centre, Lytton Road to Faisal Chowk on the Mall. Labourers from Pakistan Mazdor Ittehad, Hamdard Laboratories Waqf, Pakistan Employees’ Welfare Union, Shaheen Workers Union, Hussain Habib Corporation, PHA Workers’ Union, Lahore Gymkhana Workers’ Union, Railways Union and Muller and Phipps Private Pakistan Union and brick kiln workers participated in the rally. They carried placards and chanted slogans against price hike, load shedding, privatisation and bonded labour.
They demanded of the government to ensure working class rights and pledged to continue their struggle until their demands were met. APTUF General Secretary Aima Mahmood stressed the need of unity among workers to achieve their goals.
While people were enjoying the Labour Day holiday in urban cities, the labourers in remote areas continued their usual work. Several packages for the labour class are announced every year but the miseries of labourers based in rural areas are being increased exponentially, one of the participant said.
The labor class strongly condemned the ongoing privatisation of state-owned enterprises terming the process a denial of their due rights and rebellion with the state.
The labour leaders see hidden hand of IMF and “external forces” behind the process which is a threat to the national sovereignty. All the participants of the rally demanded an end to the capitalistic system that acts as shackles and denies the working class with their rites.
