LAHORE: A high-level delegation of the National Labour Federation (NLF) Pakistan, led by its president Shamsur Rehman Swati, met Punjab Labour Minister Khawaja Manshaullah Butt and raised key concerns of workers across the province.
The delegation included NLF Secretary General Chaudhry Haseebur Rehman, Central Punjab Region President Amin Minhas and Lahore President Syed Abdul Aziz Shigri.
During the meeting, detailed discussions were held on issues relating to labour laws, minimum wages, social security, labour inspection and industrial relations in Punjab.
The NLF delegation told the minister that the failure to increase the minimum wage in the recent budget had caused serious disappointment and unrest among workers. It said rising inflation, along with continuous increases in electricity, gas and essential commodity prices, had made life extremely difficult for labour families.
The delegation demanded an immediate and realistic increase in the minimum wage so that workers could live with dignity.
It also proposed that assistance being provided by the government through ration cards, subsidies and other social welfare schemes should be incorporated into the wage system. The delegation said equivalent financial resources should be added to the minimum wage to ensure direct benefit for workers, improve transparency in the support mechanism, and close avenues for corruption and political interference.
NLF President Shamsur Rehman Swati also presented detailed reservations over controversial provisions included in the draft Punjab Labour Code. He said these provisions restricted freedom of unionisation, weakened the right to collective bargaining, provided legal cover to informal employment, and affected workers’ basic rights through the definition and categories of employer.
He said the workers’ group at the recent International Labour Conference of the ILO had also expressed serious concerns over these provisions. According to him, representatives of the federal government had assured that the disputed clauses would be reviewed and withdrawn.
The delegation further called for strengthening the labour inspection system in Punjab, strict implementation of occupational safety and health laws, modernising labour governance and taking immediate and effective steps to enhance the capacity of the Labour Department.
The Punjab labour minister listened to the proposals and demands of the delegation and assured them that the demand for an increase in the minimum wage would be strongly placed before the Punjab chief minister.
He further said that concerns of workers’ organisations regarding the Punjab Labour Code, improvement in the labour inspection system and other related matters would be taken up at appropriate forums, and necessary steps would be taken in the light of workable recommendations.
The National Labour Federation Pakistan expressed the hope that the Punjab government would prioritise the legitimate demands of workers and take practical measures to ensure economic security, social justice, and effective protection of their constitutional and legal rights.
