Provincial Minister for Labour and Human Resource Raja Ashfaq Sarwar has said that brick kiln industry plays a pivotal role in the development of economy. Punjab government is fully aware of the problems faced by brick kiln owners during implementation of Child Labour Ordinance 2016 and will ensure the redressal of their grievances by evolving an effective and practicable mechanism in consultation with brick kiln owners, he said.
He was addressing a meeting with the delegation of All Pakistan Brick Kilns Owners Association led by its Central President Shoaib Khan Niazi and General Secretary Mehr Abdul Haq. Secretary Labour and HR Ahmad Raza Sarwar, Direcotr Labour Headquarters Dawood Abdullah, District Officer Labour Lahore Syed Hasnaat Javaid along with other concerned officers were also present on the occasion.
Association President Shoaib Khan Niazi apprised the minister of the reservations of brick kiln owners over raids on the kilns by districts administration across the province, for implementation of the child labour ordinance. Raja Ashfaq Sarwar said that child labour is a menace to the society adding that brick kiln owners have always extended cooperation to the government for elimination of the practice.
The provincial minister said it is a national duty to sort out all differences with mutual understanding in order to strengthen the economy of the country. Shoaib Khan Niazi said that brick kiln owners want the resolution of the problems related to implementation of the child labour ordinance, minimum wages and enrollment of children of brick kiln labourers with cooperation of Punjab government and political leadership.
Secretary Labour Ahmad Raza Sarwar assured the delegation that the provincial government would work for the resolution of their problems.