Trade unions, other bodies vow to fight against anti-worker policies
KARACHI: A workers’ rally was held on Sunday, jointly organised by the National Trade Union Federation Pakistan (NTUF), the Home-Based Women Workers Federation (HBWWF), and other organisations. The rally was led by Riaz Abbasi, Comrade Zehra Khan, and Asad Iqbal Butt. A large number of workers from various sectors, along with representatives of political, social, and human rights organisations, participated in the event.
Nasir Mansoor, General Secretary of the National Trade Union Federation Pakistan (NTUF), while addressing the rally, stated that victimising workers for raising their legitimate demands reflected a capitalist approach that was the greatest obstacle to industrial development and economic prosperity.
He added that the workers’ rights guaranteed under national and international labour laws and conventions had not only been usurped, but those demanding their implementation were being forcibly dismissed from employment, subjected to torture in police detention cells, and arrested under fabricated charges of terrorism, murder, and extortion. He further stated that the anti-worker nexus between capitalists and the police was creating severe unrest among workers and endangering industrial peace.
Asad Iqbal Butt, Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), stated that the police task force constituted by the Sindh government had exceeded its mandate and was continuously harassing labour representatives to protect the illegal interests of capitalists. The task force remained in constant contact with factory owners but refused to hear the workers’ perspective, demonstrating that its primary purpose was to silence voices raised for labour rights through coercion.
He stressed, “Instead of curbing wage slavery in factories, the Sindh police is acting as an extension of capitalists. Using police violence to suppress lawlessness in workplaces will have dangerous consequences.”
Comrade Zehra Khan, General Secretary of the Home-Based Women Workers Federation Pakistan (HBWWF), said that capitalists had imposed an inhumane and illegal contract system that had deprived workers of all rights. She stated that attempts were underway to grant legal status to various anti-worker forms of the contract system through a so-called Labour Code. The Punjab government, consistent with its historic anti-worker stance, had passed the Labour Code in the assembly without meaningful consultation, and similar undemocratic processes were being planned in other provinces.
She added that, under the guise of the Labour Code, the primary objective of the neoliberal economic agenda was to legally absolve capitalists of all responsibilities toward workers. Workers in India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and other countries had been organizing resistance against such policies. The recent historic strike of 300 million Indian workers was a powerful expression of that resistance.
Saeed Baloch of PFF, said that the anti-worker conduct of employers, supported by state institutions, particularly the police, was causing reputational damage to Pakistan at both national and international levels. Pakistan had ratified 36 conventions of the International Labour Organization (ILO), including core labour conventions. Under the GSP Plus status granted by the European Union, Pakistan had committed to ensuring compliance with international and domestic labour laws.
Riaz Abbasi of NTUF said that international brands and Pakistani companies producing for them had also pledged to uphold workers’ rights under various agreements, including Global Framework Agreements (GFAs) and the Pakistan Accord; yet those commitments were being openly violated.
Habibuddin Junaidi, Head of the People’s Labour Bureau, stated that despite the existence of numerous national and international laws and agreements, workers remain deprived of written appointment letters, the right to unionize, social security, pensions, safe working conditions, the eight-hour workday, and paid weekly leave.
He emphasized, “For demanding these recognized fundamental rights, workers and their representatives are being intimidated by employers and labour related institutions, including the police.”
He further said that the police torture and false terrorism cases against labour leader Comrade Iqbal Abro, allegedly at the behest of the management of Towellers Limited, were a condemnable example of such repression.
Laiquat Khan of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) stated that journalists were also facing harsh working conditions and severe victimization, just like other workers. He urges all to unite across sectors to fight for comprehensive workers’ protection collectively.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026