Every year May Day gives us an opportunity to acknowledge the sacrifices of workers for the development and prosperity of nations around the world.

Pakistan's dynamic workforce is the real force behind our growth.

The government's goal of rapid, inclusive and sustainable growth is being achieved only because of our hardworking and committed workforce. If anyone has a central role in the glitter of life, it is the working man of Pakistan.

May Day, also known as Labor Day or International Workers' Day, is a holiday recognized in many countries around the world, including the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia and Latin America. But why do we celebrate this day, and what is its significance?

May Day has its roots in the labor movement of the late 19th century. May Day was first observed in the United States in 1886. On May 1 of the same year, millions of workers across the country went on strike demanding better working conditions and shorter working hours.

The strike was peaceful at first, but on May 4 a bomb exploded at a labor demonstration in Chicago, killing and injuring several people. This event strengthened the labor movement and led to May Day being celebrated as a day of workers' solidarity and protest.

May 1 has become a day for workers to come together and demand better working conditions, fair wages and other labor rights. In many countries, labor unions and other labor organizations organize parades, rallies, and other events to celebrate the achievements of the labor movement and to further improve working conditions.

The marginalized sections of our society demand a more participatory, fair and inclusive strategy. It is the responsibility of the state to establish parameters for better human rights, especially to improve labor policies and implement them 100%.

 Pakistan's history, marked by military dictatorships and fragmented democratic governments, shows continued oppression of workers. Despite some positive initiatives, the ruling elite remains in the hands of plutocrats and corporatists, who control labor policies and industrial relations.

It is reflected in the Ordinance. If you look at the labor laws, you can see the protection given to the industrialists somewhere. But why ?

The six major labor policies in Pakistan spanning from 1955 to 2018 were aimed at bridging the social gap for workers and ensuring economic equality, justice and democratic values. Unfortunately, these policies were not uniformly implemented. The purpose of creation of Pakistan was to provide an independent democratic state for the Muslim minority of colonial India.

In 1951, Pakistan ratified the ILO Conventions. The policy was progressive, but subsequent military and democratic governments often violated workers' rights.

Sindh's 2018 policy advanced workers' rights in a democratic way. Today, women earn half of men's wages, and agricultural workers are excluded from the minimum wage. Lack of reform contributes to inequality and perpetuates an unfair system.

The rise of precarious work due to low wages and poor working conditions disproportionately affects vulnerable groups. Unions in the public and private sectors face intimidation, lack of pension rights and denial of the right to form unions. It has to be done. Workers are paid minimum wages, forced to work overtime without pay, and lack social security and pension benefits.

Pakistan's constitution prohibits child labor and preserves freedom of association. However, its implementation is inadequate. Legislation such as the Industrial and Commercial Employment (Standing Orders) Ordinance 1968 and the Punjab Shops and Establishments Ordinance 1969 provide a basis for the protection of workers' rights, but in Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan or Workers are being exploited everywhere in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Everyone is silent on the economic massacre of workers.

Along with economic development, attention to people's welfare is also very important. The focus should be on strengthening trade unions, establishing trade union rights and removing obstacles to the progress of expansion.

The Trade Union Act of 1926 needs to be modernized and parliament must be mobilized to solve the long-standing problems of the workers. Parliament and provincial governments must rein in the anti-labour forces.

Finally, one would congratulate the Sindh government on the success of the Benazir Mazdoor Card. The card was launched in 2021 and it was aimed at workers'  benefits.

Meanwhle, experts say that much bigger than those registered , so what is arequired is to register all the worker so that all the labour force can avail the benefits of Benazir Mazdoor Card, which is meant for their welfare.

There is a big number of big and small industries and organisations in the country, which have not registered their work force, so all the labours need to be registered.

It is good to see that the CM Sindh Murad Ali Shah has also been vocal for the rights of the workers.

Sometime back, the Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah has also demanded for implementation of the 18th Constitutional Amendment so that provices can work for workers benefits.

He also demanded that the Workers Welfare Fund and EOBI  should also be devolved to Province so that provincial government can look after the workers beneifts.

It may be recalled here that Sindh Govt has the honour of having enactedasmany as 16 Labour friendly Laws, and one would advise the  the authorities to fully implement those laws.

It may be mentioned here that Sindh is the first province to have held the first Sindh Labour Tripartite moot in 2017  and this moot had shed light on the labour friendly laws and had called for  what we may call the ‘universalise Social Security in Sindh’.

The 2018 SindhLabour Policy was also based on the finding and advice of this mood. In short, the PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is a labour-friendly leader and he has advised his party leaders to work for the benefits of labour force, which is good precedent.

Published in The Daily National Courier, May, 01 2024

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