Intervention by PPP leadership and formation of 15-member committee to review the code and strategizing further actions demanded

Karachi, Sindh

Representatives from various labor organizations across the country have unanimously rejected the International Labor Organization’s (ILO) proposal for the Sindh Labor Code, which provided legal cover to different forms of the contractual employment system.

A consultation meeting of labor representatives on the “Sindh Labor Code” was organized by the National Trade Union Federation (NTUF) at a local hotel on Saturday.

The meeting expressed concerns that the ILO representatives and the Sindh labor department had termed this proposal a milestone in the labor struggle during their meeting with the Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah. The participants said that labor representatives were not consulted in the preparation of this proposal and declared that no labor legislation would be accepted without their consultation.

The meeting demanded that Pakistan People’s Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and the Sindh Chief Minister should intervene and take effective measures to stop this attack on labor rights. They warned that a similar labor code would be presented in other provinces and called on labor representatives in those provinces to oppose these anti-labor clauses. They stated that the labor code was proposed on the pretext of consolidating more than 20 labor laws, but this was merely an act to provide legal cover to the dangerous and anti-labor contract system, which is condemnable.

NTUF Secretary General Nasir Mansoor criticized the ILO for hiring consultants from Australia, Russia, and other countries to propose amendments to labor laws without consulting most labor organizations. He said that the labor code, presented as a plausible act by international consultants, was illegal according to both international and local laws.

He added that the proposal aimed to make the contract system legal, without considering that many children work as laborers in factories and other workplaces. He warned that if the proposal was not opposed, it would deprive workers of their right to fight against the contract system and pave the way for privatization and flexible employment practices pushed forward by neoliberalism, the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund.

A representative from the Sindh Human Rights Commission (SHRC) said that the process initiated by an August 2023 notification was ambiguous and kept secret. He emphasized that codes are compilations of laws on specific subjects and pointed out the differences between proposed codes and proposed laws. “The SHRC would invite its own technical experts to write to the government, stating that there is no provision in the law to enact this labor code,” he said, highlighting contradictions in the definitions of workers and children, among others, and declared the proposal legally untenable.

Qamar ul Hassan of The International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Associations expressed reservations over the process, questioning why labor representatives were not consulted and why the tripartite commission was not approached. He stressed that the right of association is universal and fundamental and cannot be curtailed or changed. He called for a comprehensive review before any advancement in labor laws and emphasized the need for clear and simple language in the proposed code.

State Bank of Pakistan’s labor leader Liaquat Sahi criticized the involvement of provincial labor departments in formulating the proposed code and described it as a charge sheet against the PPP government in Sindh. He accused the ILO of acting as the front man for employers in the region and warned that the proposed law would undermine the trade union movement. He suggested out rightly rejecting the proposed code instead of proposing counter-legislation.

Farhat Parveen, Executive Director of NOW Communities, proposed that trade union representatives review each law considering relevant ILO conventions and form committees to address different aspects of the law. She highlighted the absence of corresponding labor laws regarding women and suggested that trade unions draft their own proposals for improvement.

Mir Zulfiqar Ali of Public Service International said that a similar labor code was proposed in Bangladesh by the ILO, but the trade unions have been rejecting it and leading a campaign. He opined that the whole labor code should not be out rightly rejected, but only the clauses that are against the workers. He said that the ILO has been leading a conspiracy to weaken the power of trade unions. He emphasized that trade unionists need to engage in dialogue with other stakeholders and provide an alternative point of view instead of just engaging in protest. A response should be prepared collectively clause by clause.

Read: Labor Day Rally Demands Living Wage for Workers in Pakistan

Zehra Khan of the Home Based Women Workers Federation emphasized the need for clarity in three key definitions: worker, which has become increasingly significant with the rise of the gig economy; employer; and establishment. Khan suggested that workers’ representatives should call on the Sindh CM. She also agreed that a protest demonstration should be held outside the CM House and Sindh Assembly, asserting that the code should be out rightly rejected. Khan urged participants to consider how due diligence laws could be made effective and relevant, especially since the Pakistan Accord has already been established. She concluded by emphasizing that the complaint mechanism needs to be driven by workers.

Human Rights Commission of Pakistan’s Qazi Khizer extended his support to the workers, noting that there are 56,155 cases pending in the Supreme Court, over 300,000 in the High Courts, and 2.2 million in all courts, resulting in a very slow dispensation of justice. He pointed out that 28 bills were presented in the National Assembly and passed without any debate. Khizer stated that powerful quarters of the state are backing such legislations. He assured that the HRCP would support the workers in their struggle.

The meeting concluded with demands for strengthening the tripartite mechanism and ensuring that labor representatives are consulted in all labor legislation processes. At the end of the meeting, a 15-member committee was formed to review the Sindh Labor Code. Those who were made part of the committee included Mansoor, Khan, Parveen, Sahi, Hussain Badshah, Rahib Samejo, Khurshid Abbasi, among others. (PR)

Read: Save the Children of Sindh from Stunting

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Karachi

Women workers should be given equal wages for same work, and the gender-based disparity in wages should be ended, said the speakers of a consultative meeting of women workers held at the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on Thursday November 25.

The meeting was hosted by the Home-based Women Workers Federation (HBWWF) which also demanded end to harassment of women at workplaces. They demanded that at every workplace, anti-harassment committees should be established so that gender-based violence against women workers can be done away with.

This day is observed in the memory of the three great revolutionary sisters who are remembered in the history as Mirabal Sisters. These three real sisters emerged as the symbol of democratic independence, change and self-reliance. They continued to raise voice against the oppression of dictatorship till their last breath. As the result of their struggle and sacrifice, people of Dominican Republic got freedom from dictatorship.

In 1999 the general assembly of the United Nations announced to celebrate the day of November 25 as the international day for the elimination of violence against women.

The speakers said that this day has lost its political importance and it is being observed just symbolically. Sadly, many people do not know about the importance of the day, and they not know that this is the day to remember the struggle for restoration of democratic values and human rights.

They said that though on this day speeches are made about the atrocities meted out to women, but the problems faced by the working women and gender-based discrimination against them are seldom discussed. They said that in Pakistan for a long time the number of women workers in informal sector is on the rise; however, due to Covid these women workers are also the mostly affected.

Sharing their experience, women workers said during work they face different types of violence and discrimination, which cast negative effect on their social and economic life. Even today there is disparity between the wages of male and female workers, as the wages of female workers are less than male workers. This difference is about 40 to 50 percent. A lot of women workers work under contract system where they are not registered under social security institutions. They do not get pension. The incidents of violence against women workers are not even reported. They said that discrimination and violence against women is the violation of law and constitution. They said the government of Pakistan in 2010 passed a Bill against harassment at workplace, and under this law the affected women could file their complaints with the provincial and federal ombudsmen, but due to prevailing social attitudes and injustice these cases are just lingered on.

The speakers said that even today the women workers face indecent treatment at their workplaces but there is no remedy available to them. No actions are taken at the governmental or factory level. The wages are female workers are lower than their male counterparts. Most of the female workers are compelled to work under contract system. The work is rapidly shifting to informal sector, in which female workers are deprived of their legal rights. The contractors give wages as per their sweet will. The workers are threatened of being sacked if they demand raise in wages. In many sectors, especially home-based and domestic workers despite working day and night could not manage two square meals for their families. They are not given the minimum wages and growing price hike has hit them hard.

They said that the food inflation is rising in Pakistan and almost 60 percent population lives beneath the poverty line. After every fifteen days fares of transport are raised due to which prices of all commodities are rising sharply.

The meeting observed that the rights of working women are in fact human rights and without understanding them gender equality could not be brought to society. The prevailing economic crisis and negative social attitudes are worsening conditions for working women, while the women working in informal sector are compelled to work on very low wages. To avoid this situation the only way is that the working women raise voice for their rights and struggle after properly organizing themselves and joining trade union in a large number.

The consultative meeting demanded ending all discriminatory laws against women; government of Pakistan should ratify the ILO Convention 190 and make proper laws in its light; the anti-harassment laws at workplace should be made a part of labor laws and women workers should be given proper protection; baby care centers should be established in factories and workplaces; women workers should be given paid leaves for pregnancy and law for home based workers should be implemented immediately. In media and curriculum anti-women content should be checked.

Those spoke include Zahra Khan of HBWWF, Saira Feroze of United HB Garment Workers Union, Nasir Mansoor of National Trade Union Federation, Dr Shershah of Pakistan Medical Association, Shaher Bano of Journalists Union, Nuzhat Sheerin of Sindh Commission for Status of Women, Mehnaz Rehman of Aurat Foundation, Karamat Ali of National Labour Council, Saeed Baloch of Pakistan Fisher Folkforum, political activist Akram KaimKhani, Seemi Sahir of Garment and Textile women workers, Saeeda Khatoon of Baldia fire affectees association, Nasir Parveen of Lady health workers and others. (PR)

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195 companies have been given Coal Exploration Licenses and 90 companies have obtained Coal Mining Permits

SESSI, Labor Dept. to setup camp at Lakhra for registration of workers

Karachi: A total of 285 companies are operating in the Coal Mine Development Sector of Sindh out of which 195 companies have been given Coal Exploration Licenses while 90 companies have obtained Coal Mining Permits.

This information was shared in a meeting held on Monday Sindh Energy Minister Imtiaz Ahmed Sheikh in the chair at the office of the Energy Department to review measures for the safety and welfare of miners working in the province.

Minister strictly directed that all coal mining companies in Sindh must register their miners with Sindh Employees Social Security Institution (SESSI) and no further time should be wasted in this regard. He further directed that the leases and permits of the companies which were negligent in the registration of their workers should be cancelled and legal action should be taken against them.

He said that mining is a very tough sector and we have to help our poor miners in every possible way and ensure that the miners get all the benefits of the labor laws.

The meeting decided that Labor Department officials, Vice Commissioner SESSI, Director General Coal Mines, representatives of Coal Mines Association of Jamshoro District and Mine Owners will set up a joint camp in Lakhra before the month of Ramadan. They will register the miners and let miners know that they are entitled to the benefits of labor laws through registration.

The meetings also recommended meeting the shortage of security personnel at the coal mines and prepare a summary for new recruitment and send it to the Sindh Chief Minister.

In order to implement the directives of Minister, it was decided that Vice Commissioner SESSI, Labor officials, Deputy Director Coal Mines Hyderabad and Coal Mines Association Jamshoro District will jointly visit Lakhra Coal Mines next week to register the miners.

Secretary Energy Tariq Ali Shah, Secretary Labor Abdul Rashid Solangi, officers of SESSI, Chief Executive Officer of Sindh Lakhra Coal Mining Company Tawfiq Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer of Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company Abul Fazl Rizvi, Chief Inspector Coal Mines Qamar Din Soomro, Director General Sindh Coal Authority Zaheer Abid, Director General Coal Mines Development Mushtaq Soomro and other officers participated in the meeting. (PR)

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