HOME
ABOUT PWF
ABBOTTABAD DEC..
STRUCTURE
LINKS
MEMBERSHIP
PHOTO GALLERY
PUBLICATIONS
CONTACT US
 
 
 
 

CONSTITUTION

PAKISTAN WORKERS' FEDERATION

 

Preamble

 

The Labour movement in Pakistan:

 

Cognizant of the Quranic Injunctions on dignity of Labour and equality of human beings.

 

Taking pride in the sayings of the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him) that “A worker (he who works with his own hands) is a Friend of God” and “That all human beings are at par whether rich or poor, master or servant” (employer or employee).

 

Noting that Islam considers a worker as a benefactor of the world economy.

 

Taking pride of the fact that the father of nation Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah was a strong supporter of the rights of the peoples (including freedom of speech expression of association) and an advocate of decent wages and better living and working conditions for the workers and that he served as an elected president of All India postal staff union and in that capacity he represented  them in the Indian Legislative  Assembly in 1925. 

 

Cognizant of the Constitutional provisions on freedom of  association and other fundamental rights of workers fully aware of the need that the Constitutional provisions on freedom of thought, expression and association must be translated into action affecting the lives of the working men and women, and in relations with their employers, public or private, and with the state.

 

Proclaiming that the right of all peoples to full national freedom and self-government across continents is a prerequisite for peace, security, good governance and sustainable development.

 

Affirming that universal well-being based on productive and decent work with social protection and economic democracy is the foundation on which lasting peace can be achieved  and that the denial or restrictions of these rights is an affront to human dignity and a threat to peace.

 

Upholding the principles of democracy and equality of opportunity for all peoples, seeking elimination of all forms of exploitation, forced labor, discrimination and subjugation based on race, religion, color, sex and origin, and opposing totalitarianism and aggression in any form.

 

Taking cognizance of the existing multiplicity of trade unions with all its negative manifestations on workers, working conditions and industrial relations.

 

Recalling nevertheless its efforts and even sacrifices for realization of workers’ rights in Pakistan and also in terms of making contribution to national solidarity, harmonious industrial relations and productivity.

 

Recognizing the role of the trade unions in creating and, importantly, sustaining jobs as well as making contribution to the economic development is critically linked with unity amongst its ranks and file.

 

Realizing that one voice of the workers is crucial for an effective policy dialogue, with the employers/Government and also with regional and international organizations.

 

Noting that the ongoing process of globalization and neo-liberal pursuits have created enormous pressures and challenges for the workers across the globe particularly those in developing countries including Pakistan.

 

Noting that this process is making many developing countries vulnerable to the dictates of multinational corporations as well as multilateral institutions that demand stronger response from trade unions with greater solidarity at national, regional and international levels to seek a more equitable distribution of the benefits of globalization.

 

Recognizing that the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work of 1998, and the rights and principles embodied in international Labour Conventions especially the Core Labour Standards relating to trade union rights, child labour, bonded Labour, equality and non-discrimination are important instruments in ensuring an equitable distribution of gains of globalization and also in providing level playing fields.

 

Affirming the principles laid down in the Philadelphia Declaration that labour is not a commodity and poverty anywhere constitutes dangers to prosperity everywhere.

 

Noting that currently the internationally recognized instruments are at risk in the process of globalization that demands greater unity and stronger solidarity amongst the trade unions nationally, regionally and globally.

 

Recalling that realization of decent work for workers everywhere is a primary responsibility from which states can not be absolved of.

 

Emphasizing that provision of basic services – education, health care, shelter, safe drinking water and sanitation - is the sole responsibility of the state.

 

Having come to the conclusion that challenges confronting the working men and women in Pakistan can not be effectively responded without a stronger and united voice.

 

Determined to work together to promote and protect their rights  by creating “Pakistan Workers Federation” initially through merger of three national centers of Pakistan, namely: All Pakistan Federation of Trade Unions (APFTU), All Pakistan Federation of Labour (APFOL) and Pakistan National Federation of Trade Unions (PNFTU). These Federations would stand dissolved and cease to exist from the date when National Executive Board of the newly formed Pakistan Workers Federation would be established. As a second step, work for the eventual one united voice of working men and women of Pakistan by seeking the merger of other non affiliated unions and  federations with the PWF.

 

Article – 1      Name and Short Title


 

The name of this national level trade union organization shall be Pakistan Workers Federation hereinafter referred to as PWF in this Constitution.

 

Article – 2      Headquarter


 

The Headquarter of the Federation shall be at a place as determined by National Executive Board and endorsed by the National General Council of PWF.

 

Article – 3      Definitions


 

(a)         “affiliated unit” shall mean affiliated trade union or an association of workers or industrial federation.

(b)         “committee/sub committee” shall mean a body appointed by the National Executive Board for a specific purpose.

(c)         “federation” shall mean Pakistan Workers Federation (PWF).

(d)          “industrial federation” shall mean an organization having affiliation of trade unions formed  in a common or allied industrial sector.

(e)         “National Executive Board (NEB)” shall mean the executive body as constituted at the national level under Article 12 of the Constitution.

(f)           “National General Council (NGC)” shall mean the general body of the Federation as constituted at the national level under Article 8 of the Constitution.

(g)         “Regional Executive Board (REB)” shall mean the executive body as constituted at regional level under Article 14 of the Constitution.

(h)         “Regional Federation” shall mean a regional branch of the Federation as constituted under Article 6 of the Constitution.

(i)           “Regional General Council (RGC)” shall mean regional general body of the Federation as constituted at the regional level under Article 10 of the Constitution.

 

Article – 4      Aims and Objects


 

The aims and objects of the Pakistan Workers Federation shall be:

 

(a)         to establish, maintain and develop a powerful and effective national organization consisting of free and democratic trade unions, independent of any external domination and pledged to the task of promoting the interests of working people throughout Pakistan and enhancing the dignity of labour;

(b)         to co-ordinate, direct and guide the activities of regional federations, the affiliated industry-wise unions and their industrial  federations, in all matters directly or indirectly affecting the workers;

(c)         to preserve, secure, maintain and seek universal recognition for the workers of Pakistan:

  1. freedom of association;

  2. freedom of assembly;

  3. freedom of speech;

  4. freedom of press;

  5. right of collective bargaining;

  6. right of strike or withdrawal of labour;

  7. right to decent work, human dignity and social security; and

  8. equal rights and privileges in employment, irrespective of race, colour, creed and sex;

(d)                     to undertake and coordinate the defense of the free trade unions against any campaign aiming at their destruction or at the restriction of their rights or at the infiltration and subjugation of labour organization by totalitarian or other anti-labour forces;

(e)                     to strive for the establishment of full employment; the elimination of discrimination on grounds of race, colour, sex, nationality or creed; the improvement of working conditions; health and safety standards for workers; the introduction, maintenance and extension of social security for all; and raising standards of living of peoples of Pakistan;

(f)                       to represent the free trade union movement in all regional and international forums which exist or may be set up to perform functions affecting the social and economic conditions of working peoples and to further the implementation of their decisions whenever desirable;

(g)                     to ensure the integration of women in trade union organizations and actively promote gender equality in activities and decision-making at all levels;

(h)                     to strive for elimination of child labour and all forms of forced/ bonded labour;

(i)                       to endeavor to strengthen international solidarity amongst the working men and women of the world and in particular to actively co-operate with the workers of other countries to defend and promote fundamental and democratic rights of workers and other common interests and to support and co-operate with national, regional and international  organizations of workers in their struggle against all forms and kinds of exploitation and oppression and to create solidarity among national, regional and international level workers’ organizations;

(j)         to defend and promote at the national, regional and international level the economic, social and occupational interests of all workers;

(k)        to promote peace and security at the national, regional and international level for the human welfare, particularly for the working men and women;

(l)         to seek universal recognition and enforcement of the trade union rights including the rights of freedom of association and to bargain collectively;

(m)        to represent Pakistani workers at national, regional and international forums;

(n)       to furnish to all its affiliated units and the constituent regional federations information on the economy, employment, labour legislations, wages and working conditions at workplaces in different parts of the country, as well as at the regional and global level;

(o)        to endeavor to secure improved and  better relationship between employers and workers;

(p)        to promote and protect the interest of the affiliated units and endeavor to secure legislative support for  furthering the interests of the workers;

(q)        to work for abolition of contract labour in all its forms;

(r)        to help and guide the working men and women particularly the rural peasants to organize themselves into trade unions and rural workers organisations for promotion and protection of their rights, and also work for the introduction of land reforms as well as abolition of feudalism;

(s)        To encourage and promote cooperatives and socio-economic projects and services for the benefit of its affiliates and their members;

(t)                       to promote literacy and skills amongst the workers through:

                                                              i.      adult education; and

                                                            ii.      universal and free secondary education,  vocational training and technical  education;

(u)                     to work for rapid industrialization of the country;

(v)                      to seek for a social and policy dialogue to reflect trade union perspective in the formulation of socio-economic policies and plans of the government in order to ensure sustainable and equitable development;

(w)                    to encourage, promote and provide trade union education for awareness raising amongst the workers, organizing the unorganized and development of the affiliated unions/federations;

(x)                      to seek ratification and enforcement of all ILO Conventions especially the Core Labour Standards;

(y)                      to endeavor to have 40 hour week norm for workers without reduction in wages;

(z)                      to promote, protect and defend all human rights and to establish and promote cooperation with like minded organizations of civil society for protection and advancement of all basic rights; and

(aa)                to endeavor for the establishment of rule of law, independence of judiciary and good governance. 

 

Article – 5      Affiliation (Membership)


 

(a)               The affiliation with the Federation shall be open to all the trade unions, associations of workers and industrial federations, provided they:

 

(i)      subscribe to the aims and objects of the Federation as defined in the Constitution;

(ii)     ensure democratic conduct of their affairs in accordance with the provisions of their constitutions, rules and practices; and

(iii)       undertake to fulfill the obligations arising from their affiliation to the Federation as provided under Article 25.

 

(b)        Procedure for Affiliation

The following shall be the procedure for affiliation:

 

(i)           Application for affiliation duly signed by its General secretary and President shall be submitted on prescribed form to the General Secretary of the Federation together with the proforma and instrument of affiliation.

(ii)         The membership fee shall be Rs. 500 (for those having  membership of  300 or less) and Rs. 1,000 (for those having  membership   exceeding 300).

(iii)       The General Secretary after seeking recommendation from the concerned regional federation within 45 days of the receipt of application for affiliation shall place the application along with the views of regional federation before the National Executive Board which shall have the power to accept, reject or defer the application.

(iv)        The industry-wise trade unions or industrial federations having membership in more than one region shall apply directly to the General Secretary of the Federation for membership and the application will be placed directly before the National Executive Board (NEB) for affiliation and after acceptance of application for affiliation shall become an affiliate member of the Regional Federation where the head office of the affiliate is located. However, on the basis of its membership in other regions, it may take part in the activities and affairs of other Regional Federations provided its share of union dues are paid to the regions concerned.

(v)          After obtaining the NEB approval of the affiliation of a union with the Federation, the General Secretary of the Federation within 10 days of receipt of the above approval shall forward the certificate of affiliation to the union concerned and shall also inform concerned region/regions  about the affiliation of the union along with the affiliated union’s Proforma. 

 

Article – 6      Regional Federation


 

Subject to the decisions as may be made by the Federation from time to time, there shall be eight constituent regional Federations of the Pakistan Workers Federation. Their nomenclature, geographical coverage and jurisdiction shall be as under: 

 

(A)       Pakistan Workers Federation - Northern Punjab Region 

The Head Office of PWF - Northern Punjab Region shall be located at Rawalpindi/Islamabad and it shall cover trade unions and industrial federations located in the districts of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat and Sialkot.

 

(B)       Pakistan Workers Federation - Central Punjab Region

The Head Office of PWF - Central Punjab Region shall be located at Lahore and it shall cover trade unions and industrial federations located in the districts of Sargodha, Khushab, Mianwali, Bhakar, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Okara, Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh, Gujranwala and Hafizabad.

 

(C)       Pakistan Workers Federation - Southern Punjab Region

The Head Office of PWF - Southern Punjab Region shall be located at Multan and it shall cover trade unions and industrial federations of the districts of Multan, Sahiwal, Vehari, Pak Pattan, Khanewal, Lodharan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, Muzzafar Garh, Leiah, Bahawalpur, Bahawal Nagar and Rahim Yar Khan.

 

(D)       Pakistan Workers Federation – Karachi Sindh Region

The Head Office of PWF - Karachi Sindh Region shall be at Karachi and it shall cover trade unions and industrial federations located in the districts of Karachi East, West, South, Central, and Malir.

 

(E)       Pakistan Workers Federation - Interior Sindh Region

The Head Office of PWF - Interior Sindh Region shall be located at Hyderabad and it shall cover trade unions and industrial federations located in the districts  of Hyderabad, Thatha, Sanghar, Dadu, Mirpur Khas, Thar, Umarkot, Badin, Ghotki, Sukkur, Shikarpur, Nawabshah, Larkana, Noshero Feroz, Jacobabad and Khairpur.

 

(F)       Pakistan Workers Federation - Northern NWFP Region

The Head Office of PWF - Northern NWFP Region shall be located at Peshawar and it shall cover trade unions and industrial federations located in districts of Peshawar, Charsadda, Mardan, Swabi, Nowshera, Abbottabad, Haripur, Mansehra, Batgram, Kohistan, Malakand, Chitral, Bunir, Dir, Shangla, Swat and Northern areas.

 

(G)       Pakistan Workers Federation - Southern NWFP Region

The Head Office of PWF - Southern NWFP Region shall be located at Bannu and it shall cover trade unions and industrial federations located in districts of Kohat, Karak, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, D.I.Khan, Hango and North South Kurram, and Orakzai Agencies.

 

(H)       Pakistan Workers Federation - Balochistan Region

The Head Office of PWF - Balochistan Region shall be at Quetta. It shall cover trade unions and industrial federations located in all districts of Balochistan. 

 

(I) District Branches

The Regional Federations, if they deem it necessary, may constitute under their supervision, sub-branches at the district levels with the approval of Regional General Council and National Executive Board as per Article 13 (L).

 

(J) Provincial Co-ordination Committee

(a)         There shall be constituted a co-ordination committee at the provincial level for the provinces of Punjab, Sindh and NWFP, where there are more than one Regional Federation to be known as Punjab/Sindh/NWFP Co-ordination Committees.

(b)         The Provincial Co-ordination Committees shall consist of the Presidents, Chairmen and General Secretaries of the Regional Federations located in a particular province. These Committees shall be headed by one of the Presidents of the Regional Federation by rotation. The order of rotation shall be determined by the members of the Committees in their first meeting.

(c)         The Provincial Co-ordination Committee shall deal with such common issues at the provincial level as:

(i)           matters of provincial nature of interest to the concerned regional federation;

(ii)         evolving common stand on issues of provincial nature;

(iii)       meetings with government functionaries on issues peculiar to a province; and

(iv)        establish co-ordination among Regional Federations situated in a province.

 

Article – 7      International Co-operation and Affiliation


 

The main object of the Federation is to strengthen national and international solidarity and active cooperation with the workers of other countries particularly for promotion and protection of fundamental and democratic rights and common interests. The National General Council shall have the power to affiliate the Federation or otherwise co-operate with any national or international organization of workers and shall also have the power to withdraw such affiliation whenever it may deem necessary and appropriate.

 

Article – 8      National General Council (NGC)


 

(a)               A council known as the National General Council (NGC) shall be constituted. It shall be the national general body of the Federation. All the powers and authority of the Federation (other than those reserved for National Executive Board) shall vest in the NGC.

(b)               The National General Council shall consist of the members of Regional Executive Board and others as provided in Article 11 (B).

(c)               The term of office of the members of the National General Council shall be three years.

(d)               No decision of the National General Council shall be valid or operative unless taken by simple majority of the total members present.

(e)               Every regular member of the National General Council shall be within his/her right to vote by proxy. But no such proxy shall be recognized if the right of proxy is exercised by a person who is not a member of National General Council. Proxy votes can be cast in addition to one’s own vote. However, voting by proxy shall be exercised only once in a year by a member and that too on reasonable grounds.

(f)                 In case of urgency, the General Secretary in consultation with the President and the Chairman may obtain opinion of the members of National General Council by circulation of proposal by registered post and opinions thus obtained by circulation shall be compiled by the General Secretary and the majority opinion shall be deemed as the valid decision of National General Council. The decision so taken shall become part of the minutes of the National General Council meeting and shall be open for inspection by all the members of National General Council. However, every effort shall be made to avoid taking decision by circulation as far as possible.

(g)               All meetings of the National General Council shall be convened by the General Secretary at such place and at such time as he/she may decide in consultation with the President and the Chairman. One month’s clear notice shall be given for all meetings of National General Council. In case of urgency, the General Secretary shall, however, have the power to call an emergency meeting of National General Council in consultation with the President and the Chairman with seven working days’ notice.

(h)               At least one meeting of the National General Council shall be held in each calendar year.

(i)                 A meeting of the National General Council can also be called within a period of thirty days by the General Secretary on receipt in writing of requisition for such a meeting by at least 1/4th members of the National General Council. The requisitionists shall intimate the agenda to be placed before the Council in its requisitioned meeting.

(j)                  In case, the General Secretary fails to convene the meeting of National General Council within a period of thirty days after receipt of a requisition, the requistionists shall have the right to convene the meeting by giving fifteen working days’ notice wherein date, time and place of requisitioned meeting shall be indicated. The agenda of such a meeting shall be confined to the agenda mentioned in the requisition and in case, the quorum of requisitioned meeting is not complete within one hour of the given time, the meeting shall be considered to have failed.

(k)               The agenda of all meetings of National General Council shall be fixed by the General Secretary in consultation with the President and the Chairman. 

 

 Article – 9      Functions of the National General Council


           

The National General Council shall perform the following functions:

(a)        consider and decide appeals, if any, referred to it against any decision of the National Executive Board;     

(b)               consider and decide any matter referred to it by the National Executive Board;

(c)               take disciplinary action against any officer of the Federation if he/she is found guilty of misconduct or breach of the Constitution and the Rules;

(d)               elect the National Executive Board (office bearers) as per Article 17 (a), (c), (e), (g) and (h) in its Triennial National General Council Session  held every three years under Article 20;

(e)               add, modify or delete any of the Articles of the Constitution or the Rules framed there under, as laid down in Article 29;

(f)                 ratify or reject decisions and actions taken or resolutions passed by the National Executive Board; and

(g)               suspend the activities of a Regional Executive Board as provided under Article 30 (c).

 

Article –10     Regional General Council (RGC)


 

(a)               A Regional General Council (RGC) shall be constituted at each of the regions of the Federation under Article 6 of the Constitution. It shall be the regional general body of the Regional Federation.

(b)               The Regional General Council shall consist of the members of the Regional Executive Board and others as provided in Article 11(A).

(c)               Regional General Council in their respective regions shall have the same terms, conditions and powers at the Regional Federation level as are available to the National General Council under Article 8 (c to k). Similarly, RGC shall perform similar functions as are being performed by NGC under Article 9 (other than e & g) of this Constitution.

 

Article – 11    Right of Representation


 

(A)                    At Regional Level (Regional General Council)

 

Affiliated units shall be entitled to be represented on the Regional General Council of the Regional Federation according to the following formula:

 

With membership:-

 

Upto 250   One Representative
from 251 to 500   Two Representative
from 501 to 1000   Three Representative
from 1,001 to 2,000   Four Representative
for each additional slab of 1500 (or major fraction thereof)   One Representative

 

 

(B)                   At National Level (National General Council)

 

All affiliated units, through their Regional Federations, shall be represented on the National General Council of the Federation as under:

 

(i)         All members of the Regional Executive Board shall be the members of the National General Council if the total membership of the Regional Federation is less than thirty thousand.

 

(ii)               If the membership of a Regional Federation is thirty thousand or more, the Regional Federation in addition to its Regional Executive Board members, may nominate for the National General Council,  for each additional three thousand members (or major fraction thereof), one additional member. The names of such additional members and their unions shall be determined by concerned Regional Executive Board.

 

Article – 12    National Executive Board (NEB)


 

A National Executive Board (NEB) shall be constituted consisting of the following office bearers, to perform the executive functions of the Federation:

  • ne President

  • One Chairman

  • One General Secretary

  • Nine Vice Presidents (including Chairperson of Women Committee)

  • Eight Vice Chairmen

  • Eight Deputy General Secretaries

  • One Secretary Finance

  • Members of National Executive Board as determined under Article 17 (h) (ii), (iii) and (iv).

Article – 13    Powers and Functions of the National Executive Board (NEB)


 

The National Executive Board shall be responsible for the general direction, supervision and management of the affairs of the Federation. It shall have full powers and authority to:

 

(a)               interpret the Articles of the Constitution and the Rules framed thereunder and to  enforce observance and compliance of the  Constitution and the Rules framed thereunder;

(b)               decide all matters about which there is no specific provision in the Constitution, or the Rules framed thereunder and such decisions shall be fully effective unless they are amended by the National General Council;

(c)               make rules subject to the provisions of the Constitution for the proper conduct of the business of the Federation which may be confirmed, by the National General Council;

(d)               give concession in payment of subscription, where the membership of a affiliated unit is more than two thousand;

(e)               appoint committees/sub-committees either from amongst the members of the NEB or from persons co-opted by them or if considered necessary in the interest of the Federation from amongst persons having specialized  knowledge from outside;

(f)                 delegate powers to any of its members for any specific purpose;

(g)               approve the list of the names of the delegates, observers and other persons who represented the Federation at any national, regional or international meetings, conferences, seminars, educational courses, etc., which were nominated under Article 15-E(v);

(h)               appoint, suspend and/or dismiss any salaried employee of the Federation;

(i)                 remove or impose  fine on any office bearer of the National Executive Board if he/she fails to attend three consecutive meetings without written permission for absence.

(j)                  suspend/expel any office bearer or any member of the National Executive Board or any affiliated unit if in its opinion, the person or the affiliated unit has been found guilty of misconduct, calculated to injure or bring disrepute to the Federation, or if, any office bearer has acted contrary to the provision of the Constitution of the Federation or the Rules framed thereunder. Such suspension/expulsion shall be subject to review by the National General Council and if confirmed, shall effect the removal of the person or disaffiliation of the affiliated unit from the Federation as the case may be;

(k)               depute persons from amongst its members to the Regional General Councils or Regional Executive Board meetings of the Regional Federations, if considered necessary;

(l)                  establish, in consultation with the concerned Regional Federation, offices/sub-offices in various provinces/regions/ districts/towns to co-ordinate the activities of the Federation and for smooth running of the office;

(m)             fix time, date and place for the National General Council meetings;

(n)               appoint auditors and fix their remuneration;

(o)               assign/mortgage asset/s to acquire/obtain loan/s, for carrying out co-operative or socio-economic projects for the benefit of its affiliates and their membership;

(p)               Approve all payment, above Rs. 10,000 and also approve the statement of income and expenditure of the Federation. and

(q)               Approve recommendations, plans of activities and programmes submitted by any of the permanent committees under Article 18.

 

 Article – 14    Regional Executive Board (REB)


 

A.        On the pattern of the National Executive Board, the Regional Executive Board (REB) shall be constituted. The executive functions of the Regional Federation shall be carried out by the Regional Executive Board (REB), which shall consist of the following office bearers:

 

1.                  One President

2.                  One Chairman

3.                  One General Secretary

4.                  Four Vice Presidents including one woman

5.                  Four Vice Chairmen

6.                  Four Deputy General Secretaries

7.                  One Education Secretary

8.                  One Organizing Secretary

9.                  One Publicity Secretary

10.             One Finance Secretary

11.             Members of Regional Executive Board (as determined under Article 17(h) (iii)).

 

B.        Power and functions of Regional Executive Board (REB): The Regional Executive Board shall have the same powers and authority in the regional context as are available at the National Executive Board level.

 

Article – 15   Office Bearers of the National Executive Board (their Duties and Responsibilities)


 

(A)       President

 

The President shall:

 

(i)              preside over all the meetings of the National Executive Board of the

                             Federation;

(ii)                           be responsible for the smooth running of the Federation;

(iii)                         have a casting vote;

(iv)                          cause the books of the Federation to be audited once in each fiscal year by registered auditor/s; 

(v)                            maintain close contact with the secretariat for smooth running of the affairs of the Federation.

 

(B)       Chairman

 

The Chairman shall:

 

(i)               preside over all the sessions of the National General Council and in the absence of the President, shall preside over all the meetings of the National Executive Board;

(ii)               be responsible for the smooth running of the Federation;

(iii)             maintain close contact with the secretariat for smooth running of the Federation in the absence of the President. 

 

(C)       Vice President

 

Vice Presidents shall:

 

(i)               assist the President in the performance of his/her duties;

(ii)               in the absence of the President or Chairman, any one of the Vice Presidents shall perform the duties of the President;

(iii)             in the event of the President’s office falling vacant (for the remaining term) the National Executive Board shall elect any of the Vice Presidents to carry on the duties of the President till the National General Council ratifies or elects a new President for the remaining term; and

(vi)             the Vice Presidents shall be responsible for promotion and protection of Federation’s interest and organizational work in their respective regions as President of the regional federation; 

 

(D)       Vice Chairman

Vice Chairmen shall:

 

(i)               assist the Chairman in the performance of his/her duties;

(ii)              in the absence of the Chairman, any one of the Vice Chairmen shall perform the duties of the Chairman;

(iii)             in the event of Chairman’s office falling vacant (for the remaining term), the National Executive Board may elect any of the Vice Chairmen to carry on the duties of the Chairman till the National General Council ratifies or elects a new Chairman for the remaining term; and

(iv)             be responsible for promotion and protection of Federation’s interest and organizational work in their respective regions as chairman of the regional federation. 

  

(E)       General Secretary

 

 The General Secretary shall:

 

(i)               be responsible for the proper execution of the direction issued and resolutions passed at the National General Council sessions and National Executive Board meetings;

(ii)              attend to all the correspondence and carry out the policies and manage the office of the Federation;

(iii)             convene meetings/sessions of NEB and NGC in consultation with the President and Chairman;

(iv)             attend to all matters as are entrusted to him/her by the National Executive Board and National General Council;

(v)              approve nomination of delegates for meetings, seminars, conferences  or various courses at national, regional and international level in consultation  with the President and the Chairman, and present the same to NEB  as per Article 13 (g); 

(vi)             approve all payments and expenses upto Rs. 10,000 and expenses above this amount with prior approval or ex-post approval of NEB; and

(vii)            act as  secretary to all the permanent or special committees established under Article 18.

  

(F)   Deputy General Secretaries

 

  Deputy General Secretaries shall:

(i)         act as deputy to the General Secretary;

(ii)               in the absence of the General Secretary, any of the Deputy General Secretaries, with the approval of NEB shall act as General Secretary;

(iii)