Summary President stresses dignity, decent wages and protection from arbitrary termination for labourers.
ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) - President Asif Ali Zardari, has said that May 1 is a reminder of commitment to workers’ right to dignity, decent wages and protection from arbitrary termination.
In his International Labor Day message observed, Wednesday, he said: “On this day while we pay homage to the Chicago Martyrs for their fight against oppression a century ago we also renew our pledges made to the workers, peasants and wage earners that we will not abandon them in their struggle for a rightful place in society”.
President Zardari said that a contended and satisfied labor force was central to the production cycle and national development. “Indeed it is the driving force behind any industrial and agricultural progress”, he deliberated, adding that all claims of development will remain meaningless until the vulnerable working class was emancipated, empowered and rehabilitated.
This is the reason that emancipation and welfare of labor has been central to the struggle of our leaders, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. It is heartening that during the past few years a number of practical steps had been taken for improving the condition of workers.
President Zardari cited reinstatement of sacked employees, regularization of contract and daily wage earners, empowering the workers to seek legal remedies against any unlawful dismissals, restoration of trade union activities, promulgation of Industrial Relations Act, 2012 and making workers and employees share-holders in the state-run entities.
“We still have to go a long way in addressing issues relating to exploitation of the workers, child and forced labor and no representation in legislative assemblies etc”, he said.
“18th Constitutional Amendment had devolved subject of labor to the provinces, and I am confident that the provinces are aware of their responsibilities for putting in place appropriate legislative and administrative mechanisms to ensure protection of workers’ rights”, he declared.
“On this occasion while I greet the labor and workers I also call upon them to continue working hard for the progress, prosperity and socio-economic development of our country”, he concluded.
