PAKISTAN WORKERS FEDERATION HELD NATIONAL EMPLOYMENT CONFERENCE AT ISLAMABAD
Pakistan Workers Federation held “National Employment Conference” at Islamabad for two days from 8 & 9 January, 2007 which was attended by the Trade Union Representatives from all over the country and was addressed by eminent economist including Mr. Donglin Li, Director, ILO Area Office, Islamabad Dr. Rashid Amjid, Director, Employment Branch, ILO Geneva and Dr. Sabur Ghayur, Chief, Policy Planning Cell, Ministry of Labour, Government of Pakistan, Ch. Talib Nawaz, President and Mr. Khurshid Ahmed, General Secretary, Muhammad Ahmed, Chairman, Pakistan Workers Federation and was inaugurated by Malik Asif Hayat, Federal Secretary Labour, Manpower & Overseas Pakistanis. The Conference passed detailed recommendation to improve employment and skill development opportunities in the country with positive Industrial and Agriculture Development to promote “Decent Work and Poverty Alleviation in the country.
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PAKISTAN WORKERS FEDERATION HELD NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON SOCIAL SECURITY
Two days National Conference was held at Karachi on “SOCIAL SECURITY” on 22 & 23 April, 2007 under the aegis of Pakistan Workers Federation which was participated by the Trade Union Representatives from all over the country and was addressed by the National Experts including the representatives of “Social Security Institution and Labour Welfare Directorate and Old Age Benefits Institution as well as Dr. Sabur Ghayar, Chief, Policy Planning Cell, Ministry of Labour, Manpower & Overseas Pakistanis, Government of Pakistan. The Conference made concrete proposals for improving the Social Security Scheme in the country and amendment in the relevant laws and need to enlarge its scope to all the workers including Informal sector workers instead of constraining to the establishments having employed 20 workers and provision of medical facilities for the retired workers and dependents of the deceased workers and raise compensation in case of fatal and non-fatal accidents and injury pension commensurate with price hike and use the Social Security funds for promoting “Safety Culture” and to bring the legislation in line with ILO Conventions No.122.
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MAY DAY OBSERVED WITH FERVOUR
May Day, International Labour Day was observed with fervour in all over the country. Mass Rallies were held in all major Industrial cities of the country under the aegis of “Pakistan Workers Federation” including Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Hyderabad, Quetta and other places in which various resolutions were passed against price hike and anti-Labour Legislation and poor working conditions and rising unemployment and demanded for their redressal as well as urged for Independence of Judiciary, need for holding fair elections and withdrawal of reference against the Chief Justice of Supreme Court of Pakistan.
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INTERNATIONAL SAFETY DAY COMMEMORATED
International Safety Day was observed all over the country on 28 April, 2007 under the aegis of Pakistan Workers Federation” by holding special seminars and workshops and meetings in order to promote “Safety & Health at Work Place and Safety Culture and prevent accidents and occupational diseases of the workers. ILO Report on the subject was specially highlighted and it was urged to the Government to bring its laws and practices in conformity with ILO Convention No.81 and 155 and establish Independent Labour Inspection Machinery.
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PAKISTAN WORKERS FEDERATION HELD NATIONAL SEMINAR ON “DECENT WORK”
Pakistan Workers Federation held a Two Days National Seminar on “Decent Work and Fundamental Rights” at Lahore with the cooperation of ILO. The seminar was addressed by renowned National Experts as well as Dr. Rashid Amjid, Director, Employment Branch, ILO Geneva and Mr. Donglin Li, Director, ILO Area Office, Islamabad, Ch. Talib Nawaz, President and Khurshid Ahmad, General Secretary of the Federation.
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WORKING CLASS EXPRESSES CONDOLENCE OVER THE VICTIMS OF CARNAGE AT KARACHI AND TERRORISM AT CHARSADA AND PESHAWAR
Pakistan Workers Federation took out a mass procession at Lahore to condemn the carnage of Innocent Citizens at Karachi and tragic deaths of the victim of terrorism of Charsada and Peshawar. They urged the Government to bring the culprits to book and take all strong measures to restore rule of law and ensure safety of the lives of the innocent citizens.
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WAPDA UNION CONCLUDED NEW SETTLEMENT
PAKISTAN WAPDA HYDRO ELECTRIC CENTRAL LABOUR UNION, Nation-wide CBA representing 1,50,000 work force al over the country concluded a new settlement with WAPDA Authority incorporating new fringe benefits including employment of children of the WAPDA workers, House Rent, Conveyance Allowance, bringing the work charged and contingent staff on regular basis and better medical facilities to the workers and promotion of safety at work place.
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PAKISTAN WORKERS FEDERATION PRESENTED PROPOSAL ON NEW FEDERAL BUDGET.
Pakistan Workers Federation presented detailed proposals for incorporation in the Federal Budget 2007-08 consisting of demands for effective measures for raising Employment Opportunities, Poverty Alleviation, Skill Development, Abridging Irrational Gap between the rich and poor in the society and measures for the welfare of the workers including rise in their wages and pension and allocation more resources for Electricity Generation to overcome the Load Shedding and establishing good governance and effective Regularity Body for checking “MONOPOLY” at the cost of consumers.
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PAKISTAN WORKERS FEDERATION DEMANDS FOR AMENDMENT IN LABOUR LAWS.
Pakistan Workers Federation has made a detailed representation to the President and Prime Minister of Pakistan to bring the labour legislation of the country in conformity with the principles of Labour Policy, 2002 of the Government of Pakistan and the Mandatory Provisions of Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan and International Obligations undertaken by the Government of Pakistan by ratifying ILO Core Conventions Nos.87, 98 & 81 by amending the provisions of Industrial Relations Ordinance, 2002 and Section 27-B of Banking Companies Ordinance, President’s (Special Powers) for Removal from Service Ordinance, 2000 and Industrial Policy of the Governments of Sindh and Punjab and need to restore and strengthen Independent Labour Inspection Machinery in conformity with ILO Convention No.81 for enforcement of basic labour laws and promotion of Safety and Health and observance of working hours, etc. at work place.
It may be recalled that Committee on Freedom of Association of ILO Governing Body and ILO Committee of Experts on Application of ILO Ratified Conventions & Recommendation has been repeatedly asking the Government of Pakistan to amend the outdated labour laws and Industrial Polices of the Governments of Sindh and Punjab.
Mr. Khurshid Ahmad, General Secretary, PWF has made a detailed representation to the Government of Pakistan for early action on the subject and asking to fulfill the promises made by the Prime Minister of Pakistan with the workers organizations.
