Workers call for restoration of industrial relations law

Dozens of labourers from different state-run institutions on Monday staged a protest demonstration, calling for restoration of industrial relations law and regularisation of contact employees. Chanting slogans for improvement of working conditions, increase in wages and allowances, reinstatement of retrenched workers and regularisation of contract employees working at different government institutions, they urged the government to introduce the industrial relations law.
The protestors also lifted banners and placards inscribed with the demands. All Pakistan Trade Union Action Committee staged outside Karachi Press Club. Talking to Business Recorder, the labourers' representative showed displeasure over the passing of 18th Constitutional Amendment, saying it had the working class made more vulnerable to exploitation. "In the garb of 18th Constitutional Amendment, social protection, economic justice, fundamental rights and constitutional protection of working class have all been left at the mercy of indifferent rulers," they added.
According to a leaflet of the committee, the amendment has made the already exploited class of the society more uncertain and insecure and terming it against the national interest. It says, the fresh amendment is an attempt to protect the interests of capitalist and industrialists against the working class. It regrets the suspending of trade unions in industrial institutions, banks, insurance companies, corporations, Pakistan Postal Service, Pakistan Railways, PSO, PIA, Civil Aviation, OGDC, Parco, oil refineries, PTCL, PWDA, NESPA, NETCO State Bank of Pakistan, State Life Insurance, etc.
Criticising the government, the committee says, the rulers remained silent despite all damage has been done to the interest of working class, saying the suspension of trade unions is against the basic human rights. It urged the administration of different organisations to hold talks with the trade unions for a better solution to the workers problems. The committee wants deletion of the "deceiving" clauses of the 18th Amendment and provinces should not be overburdened as they have weak infrastructure and low resources. It wants the federal government should not be exempt from all such issues and should be given a sizeable role in this regard.