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"Trade Union Action Committee for Minimum Wage" launched the campaign
Speakers: Yousaf Balochs, Chairman, National Trade Union Federation
Niaz Khan, General Secretary, Ittehad Labour Union Carpet Industries
Pakistan
Aslam Miraj, General Secretary, Labour Qaumi Movement
Moeen Nawaz Panoo, General Secretary, Workers Union Rustam Sohrab Cycle
and Motorcycle Factory
Rana Tahir Perviz, President, Adam Sugur Mills Chishtian
Nazli Javed, Labour Education Foundation
A press conference was held in the premises of Lahore Pres Club on 29th
October 2008, to launch the campaign for implementation of minimum wage
Rs. 6,000 for unskilled workers announced by the government. The
speakers of the conference were of the view that employers are not
paying salaries to their workers according to the notification of the
Government. Mr. Niaz Khan, member of the Trade Union Action Committee
for Minimum Wage and general secretary of Ittehad Labour Union Carpet
Industries Pakistan said that 90 percent of the industrial and corporate
units are not paying the notified wages to their workers. The prime
minister Gillani announced the minimum wage in inaugural session of the
parliament on March 26, 2008 but the employers have made a mockery of
the government notification and workers are still waiting for the
increment in their wages. He said in demand that government must enforce
its law for minimum wages of rupees 6000 and should revise the amount of
minimum wage for unskilled workers, in accordance with the rising
inflation. Mr. Niaz Khan said that government should fix the minimum
wage up to 12000 rupees per month for unskilled workers.
He further stated in demand that owners of the industrial and corporate
units should immediately pursue the governmental decision about minimum
wages otherwise the workers organizations would lay siege to their
units. The speakers also passed on a warning to the employers that they
must act upon the notification within 15 days; otherwise trade unions
would encircle those particular industrial/corporate units, who won't
pay the minimum wages to their employees. Mr. Niaz Khan said that
workers would compel their employers to obey the ruling of the
government.
The speakers said that they have identified some Punjab-based industrial
and business outlets, which are not paying minimum wages to their
workers. The list of such outlets consist of Gourmet Bakers, Cakes &
Bakes, Carpet units, New Khan Bus service, Master Textile Mills,
Crescent Bahoo Maan, Adam Sugar Mills, Chenab Fabrics and
Crescent Sugar Mills, who are still paying 4000 to 4500 rupees to their
workers. Moreover there are several other small units, who are not even
paying 3000 rupees to their workers in terms of monthly salary.
An eight-point charter of demand was also presented in the press
conference and committee has expressed its concerns on the following
issues:
·Government should take disciplinary action against all of those owners,
who are violating labour laws and not paying 6000 rupees to their
workers
·Government should devise the new labour policy and Industrial Relation
Act but with the consultation of workers and 25 percent quota of
outsiders in the trade unions should be ensured
·Labour department was stopped from labour inspection in the industrial
and corporate units and resultantly, factory Act of 1934 has become
irrelevant. So the government should lift the ban on inspection. This
ban is only in the Punjab province.
·There is a dire need of legislation for labour courts to settle the
disputes within three months, so the workers could get immediate justice
·Government should assure the provision of social security, employees
old-age benefit and workers welfare fund in all of the industrial &
commercial units
·Contract system must be abolished and government should force the
employers for issuance of appointment letters to the workers
·Government should fix the monthly salary of worth 12000 for unskilled
workers
·Government should assure/manage the provision of social security cards
to the workers of carpet factories and brick kilns |
