Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has announced to enhance theminimum wage of workers to eight thousand rupees from seven thousand rupees.
Addressing Workers Convention, in connection with May Day celebrations in Islamabad on Tuesday, he announced a series of incentives for the workers and laborers including twenty percent increase in their pension while raising the debt grant to five hundred thousand rupees and marriage grant to one hundred thousand rupees.
He also gave orders for regularization of the services of contractual workers in PTCL, Capital Development Authority and Higher Education Commission.
The Prime Minister directed the concerned ministry to formulate a new labor policy envisaging more relief for the poor workers.
He said Pakistan Peoples Party is a pro worker policy and has always worked for their rights and emancipation to forward the mission of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto.
Recounting the present government’s pro worker measures, Prime Minister Gilani said after coming to power, Pakistan Peoples Party abolished all the anti labor laws including IRA 2002 and carried out legislation including IRA 2012 to protect the rights of the workers.
He said the government also restored labor unions and labor appellate tribunals and courts. This particularly step, he said, earned appreciation from all segments of the society particularly the union leaders.
He said the government also gave ownership to the employees in the public sector entities by giving them shares to them under the Benazir Stock Option scheme.
He said so far shares worth 100 billion rupees have been distributed free of cost amongst the workers of different organizations. To give shelter to the workers, he said the government also has launched several housing schemes and so far 1128 flats and 603 houses have been given to the workers on ownership basis.
The Prime Minister also handed over confirmation letters to the newly regularized employees of different public sector departments amidst pro-PPP slogans.
They chanted slogans with beating desks in favour of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto, and President Asif Ali Zardari would come for the next five years in the power.
Addressing the convention Religious Affairs Minister Syed Khurshid Shah said that Pakistan Peoples Party is the party of the workers, farmers and youth and it would never be defeated or pressurized by others.
He said the history is witnessed that the usurpers names were perished while the innocent are still alive. He said Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto were punished for their loyalties to the workers and for championing their cause.
He said today no dictator is being appreciated while our Shuhada are living in our hearts. He said those Judges who gave capital punishment to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto are repenting their Judgement.
Minister of State Sheikh Waqas Akram in his address also spoke on the occasion and highlighted the difficulties of the labors. Chairman Labour Bureau Chaudhry Manzoor also highlighted the importance of the day in his welcome address. He said PPP gave rights to the labors and gave them voice to raise their problems.
On behalf of Punjab Labors Malik Sher Ahmed put on the head of Prime Minister a traditional turban.
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira, Minister for Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir Affairs Manzoor Ahmad Watto and the parliamentarians attended the workers convention. SANA
