Wage magistrates ensure provision of minimum wages for labours: CM

F.P. Report

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister, Sardar Ali Amin Khan Gandapur, on the eve of International Labor Day announced to double the assistance packages given to the laborers by the provincial government and said that the revenue of provincial labor department has increased so the packages of labors should also be enhanced accordingly.

He also announced to appoint/post wage magistrates to ensure provision of minimum wages fixed by the government to laborers and said that salaries of laborers must be transferred through bank accounts and effective monitoring mechanism should be put in place.

He was addressing a ceremony held in Peshawar here on Wednesday to mark the International Labor Day.

In the ceremony, the Chief Minister made an online transfer of Rs177.5 million rupees to the accounts of laborers for the educational expenditures of their children. A total of 22354 students will benefit from the transferred amount .He on this occasion, also instructed the provincial labor department to hand over the 2056 residential flats at the earliest to laborers constructed for them in Peshawar and said that, in consultation with all stakeholders handing over be carried out in a transparent manner.

Addressing the audience, Ali Amin Gandapur said that the role of laborers in in national and economic development is pivotal and they deserve tribute and appreciation for their contribution. He said that if the problems of labor class are realized in true sense most of them automatically get resolved. He added that the incumbent provincial government would safeguard the rights and welfare of the laborers by introducing new legislation and reforms in existing legal framework, stakeholders including labors’ representatives would also be taken on board during the process of legislation and reforms.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government would stand by the labor class and would not allow any individual or institution to exploit them.

The chief minister mentioned that, ease of doing business was also one of the priorities of his government adding that potential investors would be attracted to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by extending facilities to them. Investors were being encouraged to invest in the province by providing conducive environment, plans were also in pipeline for providing locally produced electricity to industry at cheaper rates which will resultantly benefit laborers and create job opportunities in the province. He added that intentions and priorities of the incumbent provincial government were bonafide and will be successful in delivering.

Provincial Minister for labor , Fazal Shakoor Khan, Country Director for Pakistan, International Labor Organization, labor representatives and others also addressed the ceremony.