Labour Day is celebrated across the world every year to commemorate the sacrifices of workers in Chicago and to express solidarity with the worker community, to up hold the dignity of labour and most recently, to ensure implementation of ILO's Decent Work Agenda.
Under the Rules of Business of the Government of Pakistan framed under the Constitution, the Ministry of Labour and Manpower is the focal agency in the Federal Government for matters relating to the welfare of workers, resolution of industrial disputes and registration of national-level trade unions and federations. While the mechanism for resolution of industrial disputes is provided under the federal law, enforcement and adjudication falls within the jurisdiction of the provincial governments, whereas labour welfare schemes are by the large supervised directly by the Ministry of Labour and Manpower.
Consequent to the 18th Amendment to the Constitution, industrial relations and labour welfare are in the exclusive domain of the provinces to the extent of their territorial jurisdiction. The Ministry of Labour and Manpower shall however, continue to endeavour to protect the rights of workers through consistent interaction with the provinces and abide by international obligations. During the year, the National Industrial Relations Commission, an organisation in the Ministry dealing with national-level trade unions and federations and trans-provincial industrial disputes, has been effectively addressing industrial issues. The Workers' Welfare Fund (WWF) and Employees' Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) are the main organisations of the Federal Government engaged in welfare activities for workers. Welfare measures for registered workers include free education for workers' children, post-matric scholarships for workers' children, housing, medical facilities, marriage and death grants disability and old-age pensions etc the Ministry of Labour and Manpower is also responsible for ensuring conformity of international agreements and conventions signed by the State.
After the 18th Amendment to the Constitution and deletion of the Concurrent List, the provinces have promulgated laws relating to industrial and are in the process of adopting all federal laws that cover workers' rights, working conditions, work hours, safety at work, inspections of industrial establishments, employment, gender equality, restrictions on employment of child labour, payment of minimum wages etc the Government of Pakistan at the same time has a draft bill on the anvil to enact an industrial relations law for federal territories, resolution of trans-provincial industrial disputes and registration of national-level trade unions and federations.
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