ILO Accused of Conspiring Against The Workers In Pakistan

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Rally -Karachi-Sindh Courier

Sindh and Punjab governments, in collaboration with the International Labor Organization (ILO), were conspiring to legalize the illegal third-party contract system

Karachi, Sindh

The National Trade Union Federation Pakistan (NTUF) and the Home-Based Women Workers Federation Pakistan (HBWWF) organized a joint rally from Regal Chowk to the Karachi Press Club on Sunday to protest against wage nonpayment, the contract labor system, crimes of international fashion brands, privatization of institutions, and anti-labor and anti-environment policies of the government.

Addressing the rally, trade union leaders said that the Sindh and Punjab governments, in collaboration with the International Labor Organization (ILO), were conspiring to legalize the illegal third-party contract system. They accused the ILO of violating Convention 144, which advocates for tripartite consultation. The contract labor system deprived workers of their basic rights and identity.

They said that legal action will be taken against these anti-worker measures nationally and internationally, particularly in Switzerland. Contacts with other South Asian labor organizations had also begun for a united response.

Rally -Karachi-Sindh Courier-1They criticized Sindh Labor Ministry for failing to ensure payment of government-declared wages. Due to the ministry’s incompetence, 90% of workers in Sindh remain deprived of minimum wages. Instead of enforcing wage payments, the ministry remained inactive. Workers were being forcibly terminated. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was urged to intervene immediately to prevent further damage to the party’s reputation caused by the ministry’s inaction.

The leaders highlighted the rising unemployment and poverty, blaming anti-worker policies imposed under international financial institutions’ directives. Despite government claims of economic progress, over 4.5 million people were unemployed, and 95 million lived below the poverty line—40% of the population. Over 12 million individuals fell below the poverty line in the past year, even as claims of reduced inflation and stock market growth persisted.

They said that workers’ purchasing power had collapsed despite inflation control announcements. Pakistan’s per capita income was the lowest in the region, and the number of out-of-school children was the highest.

They criticized the plight of the youth, many of whom sought legal and illegal ways to leave the country due to bleak economic prospects. Over 400 youths die annually in attempts to migrate illegally, often losing their lives in boat accidents while searching for employment abroad.

Labor leaders revealed that over 2.7 million workers suffered workplace accidents annually, while more than 200 miners died every year due to unsafe conditions. He condemned the government for prioritizing elite privileges over the welfare of lower-tier public employees, eliminating pensions, and privatizing public institutions to benefit select groups.

International fashion brands were also criticized for exploiting workers in garment factories, where laborers were treated as wage slaves. These brands openly violated local and international labor laws.

The rally concluded with the following demands:

The contract labor system should be criminalized and abolished; Workers must receive permanent employment and written appointment letters; Payment of declared wages should be ensured; wages should be paid through bank accounts; implementation of labor laws in workplaces must be ensured; all workers should be registered with social security and pension institutions; the right to unionization must be recognized; privatization of institutions should be halted immediately; terminations in public and private institutions must end; workplaces should be free from harassment, and anti-harassment committees should be formed in every institution; anti-environmental water projects, including canals from the Indus River, must be canceled; land grabbing under the guise of corporate farming must stop, and international fashion brands must adhere to local labor laws and European Parliament regulations.

Labor leaders announced a national meeting of labor organization representatives next week to plan collective action against anti-worker policies.

The rally, led by Comrades Zehra Khan and Riaz Abbasi, was participated by  Gul Rehman of the Movement for Labor Rights (MLR), Comrade Ramzan Memon and Shahina Ramaza of National Party,  Transgender activist Kami Chaudery, Ghulam Mehboob of the PC Hotel Union, Mehboob Khan of the WAPDA Union, Waim Jameel, Amar Maqsi, Khaliq Zardran of Awami Huqooq, Comrade Manzoor Razi of railway union, Comrade Sultan and Comrade Jannat, Ruqqia M Hanif of the United HB Workers Union, Anny and Parveen Bano of the Zardosi Workers Union, labor leaders, Aqib Hussain of the Alternate, Bilawal Shah, Shahzad Mughal, Waqas Qureshi, Advocate Ahsan Mahmood, Noorddin Advocate, Himmat Ali Phulpoto of Textile and Garment Union, Iqbal Abro, Buland Iqbal, Rabil Abro and others. (PR)

Read: Workers’ rally against inflation, poverty and unemployment

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