FAISALABAD, June 11th: The Labour Department has decided to initiate proceedings against all industrial units accused of making female employees work more than 12 hours a day. The decision follows complaints by various workers’ representatives and Labour Qaumi Movement (LQM). It has been alleged that a majority of export-oriented units in garments and cotton fabric sectors deprive female workers of their legitimate rights as outlined in labour laws. According to the labour laws, duty hours for a female worker were limited to 42 hours a week. However, it was revealed that most female workers were being forced to work over 90 hours a week. At the same time, these workers were not provided social security facilities, old age benefits and other facilities. LQM Chairman Muhammad … [Read more...]
‘7,000 studying at centres at brick kilns’
LAHORE, Feb 25: PUNJAB Labour Minister Ehsaan-ud-Din Qureshi has said 200 non-formal education centres are providing education to 7,000 students at the brick kilns in Lahore and Kasur districts. He said about 5,700 workers were facilitated to acquire CNICs. According to handout here on Feb 23, the minister, talking to various delegations, said that veterinary staff visited 154 brick kilns and provided treatment to 448 animals of brick kiln labourers. He said that the laburer department organised health camps at brick kilns and free of cost treatment was provided to 1,300 labourers. He said every effort was being made by the government to uplift the socio-economic status of the labourers. Published by Daily The News on Feb 24, 2013 … [Read more...]
Steps to ensure safety at workplace discussed
KARACHI, Feb 22: Workplace safety and health and social protection of industrial workers can only be assured after true implementation of labour laws along with aneffective system of inspection and a complete devolution of labour-related activities to provinces. This was recommended at a follow-up tripartite workshop held at a local hotel on Feb 21 with a view to developing a joint plan of action in connection with workplace safety and labourers’ health and safety in Sindh. The workshop organised by the Sindh labour department in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation was attended by a number of representatives of trade unions, non-governmental organisations, Sindh labour directorate and industries. Speaking about insurance schemes and social securities for … [Read more...]
Workplace safety: Labour dept likely to launch action plan next month
KARACHI, Dec 7: An announcement about various exit points in a local hotel in case of a fire or any an emergency set the tone for the main theme of a workshop that was being held at the hotel on the topic of “promoting workplace safety and health in Sindh” on Dec 6. Speaking at the workshop that included three parallel technical consultation sessions on the themes of “occupational safety and health”, “labour inspection” and “work injury insurance schemes”, Sindh labour department secretary Arif Elahi said: “Instead of blaming employers, inspectors, emergency services, etc, we thought of an action plan of first training ourselves to prevent tragedies such as the Baldia Town factory fire.” He added: “The business people must understand that no one is out to harass … [Read more...]
Call to promote awareness at workplace safety
KARACHI, Dec 5: Lack of coordination and trust-deficit among the workers, employers and government are the major hurdles in introducing positive reforms in labour sector and special attention from all segments of society, including media, is needed to improve the situation through awareness. Sindh Labour Department has registered 913 new industrial units in short period of two months, and 60 unit owners have been prosecuted for not implementing labour laws and safety measurements. “Such a large number of industrial units had not been registered in last 65 years as in just two month,” Secretary Sindh Labour Department Arif Elahi said at a press conference held here Dec 4 at Committee Hall of the department. Elahi said the department compensated the families of 214 victims of … [Read more...]