The present Government, following the footsteps of its great visionary leaders, has also taken some important practical steps to improve the conditions of the workers to guarantee them their dignity and rightful place in the society. Promulgation of Industrial Relations Act, 2012, reinstatement of the sacked employees, regularization of contract and daily wage earners, empowering the workers to seek legal remedies against any unlawful dismissals and restoration of trade union activities are some of the important milestones achieved by the Government while fulfilling the promise that we made to our labour class.
It is a matter of great satisfaction that a special scheme the Benazir Employees Stock Option Scheme has been launched by the Government for the welfare of the workers. The scheme which is offering 12% stock shares to workers in the state-owned enterprises, has benefited five hundred thousand families. For the first time, workers have been made part of the national production process through ownership. These, no doubt, are remarkable steps reflecting the Government?s sincere efforts in improving the condition of the working class and protecting them form exploitation but the journey is not over yet. It will continue till the time our workers secure their rightful place in the society and are fully protected through social, economic and political measures against all kinds of exploitation.
Message of Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, Prime Minister of Pakistan?Today is the 1st of May. The day is observed globally to pay tributes to the workers and labourers of Chicago for the sacrifices they rendered for attainment of their rights. The concept of agricultural, industrial and socio-economic development is incomplete without contribution of labourers, workers and farmers. The global strides in industry and agriculture are owed to the hard work of labourers and farmers. Pakistan People?s Party is fully aware of the farmers, labourers and workers role in the national development and has been strenuously engaged in efforts to bring about positive changes in their lives. Our Shaheed leaders Zulifikar Ali Bhutto and Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto considered the labourers and workers as an invaluable asset of the party. Shaheed Bhutto founded PPP on the slogan of welfare of the neglected sections of society and for the sake of carving out a respectable place for them in the social setup.
We believe that secret of any country?s development lies in the value of hard work and its human resources. A society, which does not address the basic needs of its working classes, remains backward. Right from day one, the government has been committed to improving the standard of living of labourers and workers. It has taken a number of steps for provision of basic amenities such as education, housing and health. Shaheed Zulifkar Ali Bhutto announced the first labour policy in 1972, which provided the working classes with social protection, justice, and old age benefit scheme. Workers Welfare Fund was established for this purpose and the 1st of May was designated as the gazetted holiday.
In accordance with the manifesto of PPP, I announced the restoration of labour organizations upon assuming office. The democratic government launched a number of worker-friendly policies and schemes in order to ameliorate their lot. The Labour Policy introduced by the present government in 2010 raised the minimum wage of workers from Rs. 6000 to Rs. 7000 per month. The reinstatement of fired employees was ensured through Reinstatement Act 2010. The government also promulgated Industrial Relations Act 2012 for welfare of the workers and raised the old age pension ceiling at Rs. 3600.
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