With the formation of first Hari trade union, Sindh became the first province with formal trade union organisation of Haris and agricultural workers.
Haris belonging to different villages formed their trade union in Mirpurkhas the other day and announced a struggle to get their legal rights.
They held a convention at the Bisma Hotel Mirpurkhas and formally gave approval for the name of their trade union as “Agriculture Workers Union Mirpurkhas”. They also elected their office-bearers. Muhammad Ibrahim Khaskheli was elected as president, Meeran Amarchand as vice president, Muhammad Ramzan Solangi as general secretary, Khuda Bux Solangi as joint secretary, Muhammad Illiyas Laghari as media secretary and Manoo Kolhi was elected as finance secretary. They said papers for formal registration of their trade union had been submitted to the labour department, Mirprkhas.
On the occasion, the Hari leaders welcomed the SIRA 2013 and said the rights to Haris and agricultural workers under this law were a step forward for their progress and prosperity.
They said the peasants of Sindh had been facing atrocities of the feudal lords for centuries. They said unlimited working hours of Haris showed that they still worked in the era of slavery. In this dark and dreadful scenario, the struggle of the Haris of Sindh was a brave tradition, he said, adding these Haris had waged a brave fight for their rights. They said that improvement in the industrial relation was materialised due to this struggle and the tenancy act was also passed. However, sadly it still lacked proper implementation. They said in this backdrop, the workers belonging to the agriculture and fisheries sectors were accepted as workers legally and millions of other workers had got inspiration from this decision that they would get their due rights in the 21st century.
They said in this representative convention, the agriculture workers decided to make their union. They also approved to make the constitution of the union and vowed that the workers of Mirpurkhas would struggle for their rights through collective bargaining.
