FAISALABAD: On the occasion of International Labour Day, speakers at a seminar jointly organized by the Association of Women for Awareness and Motivation (AWAM) and allied labour organizations called for immediate and concrete measures to protect the rights of workers, particularly women engaged in home-based and cottage industries.
Participants stressed that the Punjab Employees Social Security Institute must prioritize the registration and provision of social protection to women home-based workers, many of whom remain excluded from formal labour systems. Despite the presence of progressive labour laws and Pakistan’s commitments under international frameworks, including conventions of the International Labour Organization and principles on business and human rights, a large segment of the workforce continues to face economic vulnerability due to weak enforcement and limited political will.
The seminar, presided over by labour leader Nawaz Gill, brought together key stakeholders including Arif Ayaz, Sonia Javed, Dr. Musadaq Hussain, Abdul Manaf, Ch. Amjad, Zahid Hussain, Surriya Waseer, and Irum Sultana, along with representatives of various workers’ unions. Speakers collectively urged state authorities and mainstream political leadership to translate policy commitments into actionable reforms, ensuring the effective implementation of labour laws in both letter and spirit. The seminar concluded with a renewed commitment from participating organizations to continue advocating for labour rights and to stand in solidarity with workers in pursuit of their legitimate demands.
Comments