Pakistan’s 10 labor federations, affiliated with IndustriALL Global Union, in a joint statement labeled the Labor Codes of Sindh and Punjab as anti-worker
Karachi, Sindh
Pakistan’s ten labor federations, affiliated with IndustriALL Global Union, in a joint statement on Thursday September 26, 2024, rejected the Labor Codes of Sindh and Punjab labeling them as anti-worker.
The joint statement was issued at the conclusion of a two-day joint meeting of labor federations affiliated with IndustriALL Global Union (IGU) held under the chairmanship of labor leader Sajjad Hussain Gardezi at a local hotel in Karachi.
Representatives from ten labor organizations across the country attended, including the National Trade Union Federation Pakistan (NTUF), Pakistan Textile Workers Federation (PTWF), Pakistan Central Mines Labor Federation (CMLP), All Pakistan Oil & Gas Employees Federation (APOGEF), All Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric Workers Union (APWHEWU), Home-Based Women Workers Federation (HBWWF), Itehad Labor Union Carpet Industry Pakistan (ILUCIP), Pakistan Mines Workers Federation (PMWF), Pakistan Textile Garments Leather Workers Federation (PTGLWF), and Pakistan Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mines & General Workers Union (PCEM).
The meeting also expressed deep concern over the government’s privatization policy for public entities and the rising number of workplace accidents. It was decided that a nationwide protest would be held on October 7 against the labor codes, privatization, and workplace accidents.
The Secretary of the Employers Federation of Pakistan, Syed Nazar Ali, attended a session and expressed serious reservations about the codes, stating that they were introduced without stakeholder consultation and would not be accepted.
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During the meeting, office bearers for the IndustriALL Pakistan Council were elected: Syed Ijaz Bukhari as Chairperson, Sultan Muhammed as President, Nasir Mansoor as General Secretary, Niaz Khan, Sajjad Gardezi, and Sarzameen Afghani as Vice Presidents, Nowsher Khan as Deputy General Secretary, Abul Hassan Shah as Joint Secretary, Zia Syed as Press Secretary, Muhammad Saleem as Finance Secretary, and Saira Feroze as Women’s Secretary.
The meeting called for tripartite labor conferences at provincial and federal levels to formulate labor policies in consultation with all stakeholders and to create worker-friendly laws. It also demanded an end to the anti-national act of privatization and urged for safer workplaces. (PR)
Read: Labor Representatives Reject ILO’s Sindh Labor Code Proposal
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