ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza
Gilani have said that the Government believes in the dignity of labour and
believes that a prosperous workforce can enable Pakistan to compete in a
globalized market environment.
The President in his separate message on the occasion of World Labor Day,
being observed today (Sunday) across the country, said that PPP has
traditionally derived its strength from the labor, the peasants and the daily
wage earners and it is determined to free them from exploitation.
The Government, he claimed, will do everything possible for the emancipation
of the working classes and to ensure dignity, honor and decent living to them. A
host of measures have been taken to address the issues of working classes in the
last three yeas, he added.
The Prime Minister in his separate message said that “we are celebrating May
Day with a resolve to reaffirm our commitment to the dignity of labour and to
pay tribute to the valiant and heroic struggle of the workers of Chicago who
sacrificed their lives for the fundamental rights of their fellow workers”.
Labour, he said, no doubt, is the backbone of the industry and keep its wheel
running. “It is the worker community, who due to hard work, have enabled the
economy to maintain high economic growth, massive production and high levels of
productivity.”, he added
”Pakistan Peoples’ Party is striving devotedly for the rights and welfare of
workers since its inception. It was the PPP government which for the first time
observed Labour Day in Pakistan”, Gilani said.
The Pakistan Peoples’ Party, during the seventies, initiated various
pro-labour measures and policies for amelioration of the working community,
provided pensionary benefits to workers, increased workers’ share in companies’
profits, launched various labour welfare schemes and promoted workers’
participation in the management, he said.
Underlining the importance of peace, tranquility and better working
conditions at the workplace, social dialogue through tripartism and decent work,
he said, the present Government introduced a number of revolutionary steps in
the Labour Policy 2010.
“Minimum wage for unskilled labour has been enhanced from Rs. 6000 per month
to Rs. 7000 per month. Workers have been given share in state enterprises,
reinstatement of sacked employees/workers has been ensured under the Sacked
Employees (Reinstatement) Act 2010, a large number of labour welfare schemes
have been introduced for workers and their children, medical coverage has been
expanded and employees old age pension has been enhanced to Rs. 3000 per
month”, he added.
Employees and employers are partners in the production process and their
coordination and cooperation is the need of the hour for industrial peace and
harmony to ensure optimal utilization of their energies for socio-economic
development of the country, Gilani said.
The Premier urged employees and employers across the country to come forward
and play their role in making Pakistan a prosperous country. On the other hand,
Federal Minister for labor and manpower in his message said that Pakistan
People’s Party believes that labour is an integral part of our economy.
The tremendous contribution by our workers in economic development and growth
of the country in recent years cannot be denied, he said, adding that, it is the
need of the hour that workers should be given their rights and dignity in
society to motivate them to achieve economic prosperity.
The Pakistan People’s Party has always proved its pro-labour policies and The
government has taken a number of steps for the welfare of the working class, he
added.
The Pakistan Peoples’ Party Government is committed to welfare and up-keeping
of the working class. I appeal to the working class to join hands to make
Pakistan a truly progressive, moderate and enlightened country for fulfilling
the dreams of the Founder of the Nation Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah and our
great Quaid-i-Awam Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, he added. Online
