Representatives of trade unions and pro-labourer institutions have demanded that the government should introduce changes in the draft of the Sindh Industrial Relation Act (IRA) 2011 by incorporating informal workers in the category of workers.
They also called for revision of the current structure of minimum wages. They were expressing their views at a follow-up meeting of the Sindh Labour Conference held at the Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (PILER) on Monday. The meeting reviewed the implementation of the Sindh Labour Conference decisions that took place in October 12 this year. The meeting also sought to outline the agenda of a meeting with Provincial Labour Ministry.
The committee members nominated to execute recommendations made by Sindh Labour Conference for Sindh Industrial Relation Act (IRA) 2011 included Karamat Ali, executive director of PILER; Noor Muhammad of the Pakistan Workers Confederation; Qamar-ul-Hassan of the International Union of Food; Shafiq Ghauri of the National Trade Unions’ Federation; Manzoor Badayuni of the Peoples Labour Bureau; Sarwar Abbasi of the Watan Dost Mazdoor Federation; and Mirza Maqsood from the Mazdoor Mahaz Amal.
The committee members demanded at the meeting that the government should take political parties and public opinion on board to before initiating the legislation. It should also restore the local government system.
They demanded that the process to approve labour laws after the constitutional reforms 18th Amendment should be speedy. They also highlighted the need for provinces to adopt the six comprehensive recommendations made by Justice Shafiur Rehman Commission. They also urged the importance of amendments in the Tenancy Act. They were of the view that the act should be formulated in order to secure the rights of the agriculture workers.
They called for the inclusion of the home-based workers in the category of employers and workers, while their houses, as workplaces should be considered as small industrial units.
A sub-committee of four people was also formulated to follow up on the progress of the Sindh IRA 2011 draft. This committee includes Shafiq Ghauri, Qamarul Hassan, Mirza Maqsood, and Ateeq Qureshi.
