Labour Day

Labour Day is celebrated across the world on May 1 to pay homage to the relentless struggle of American workers in late 19th century for achieve the economic and social for the working class, during which several of them sacrificed their lives. Pakistan ratified 36 ILO Conventions in 1947, but first Labour Policy was approved in 1972, which is yet to be implemented in letter and spirit.

Sitting governments and leaders from the opposition parties always claim to hold the interest of labourers supreme and they will ensure implantation of laws that protect their rights, pertaining observance of 8 working hours, healthy working environment and payment of minimum wage. The ILO officials based in the country complain against the non-implementation of labour rights related conventions that Pakistan had ratified.

 The country has 60 million workers, whereas the labour departments of all four provinces have 336 labour inspectors. These inspectors seldom visit industrial units and business houses; see the employers to get off-the-book incentives, and refrain from meeting workers to know about their complaints, particularly about release of salaries much less than minimum wage of Rs.15,400 and lack of appropriate health cover from Social Welfare health facility.

The workers also get a raw deal in OEBI pension, the monthly rate of which is ridiculous joke with workers who retire at the age superannuation. Most of the industrial units of medium scale manufacturing do not regularly pay contribution to this pension. It is time to formulate workers friendly new labour policy and ensure its implementation.