World Federation of Trade Unions

APTUF report on May Day celebrations in Pakistan

To celebrate this event enthusiastically APTUF publish posters and pamphlet prior to May Day rally and send it to Trade unions nationally and internationally. Solidarity messages send it to all trade unions in Pakistan and around the world.

On May 1st, APTUF hold a big rally In Lahore in which thousands of workers including women and children’s participated. Rallies started from different industrial areas and gathered in Simla Pahari and march towards the Mall, Lahore. Thousands of workers, peasants / women from formal and informal sector participated in the rally, waiving red flags and banners expressing solidarity with laborers and the working class and particularly with martyrs of Chicago. A rally, led by Mr. Gulzar Ahmed Chaudhary, General Secretary, APTUF Rubina Jamil, Niaz Khan, Ilyas Mohammad, Aima Mahmood and others.

Throughout rally workers chanted slogans with great enthusiasm against “mounting inflation”, recent increase in the prices of oil, “Red salute to Chicago martyrs”, “workers want peace”, “No more US intervention”, “No more foreign intervention”, “Stop Load shedding”. The participants were carrying red flags and banners in support of their demands. They condemned exploitation of workers by compelling them to work under unsafe working condition for longer hours and for meager wages.

While addressing the rally at GPO Chowk, Mr. Gulzar Ahmed Chaudhary, Mr. Khursheed Ahmed, Ms. Rubina Jamil, Fazal-e-Wahid, said that the Pakistan’s workers find themselves groping for livelihood in situation, which is compounded by harsh work conditions and spiraling inflation. It is critical to see whether or not the new government will honor its commitment, because ensuring rights guaranteed by the constitution to working class is essential for bettering the lot of the large majority that resides in Pakistan. If the government fails to pay attention to the plight of lower income groups and continues to pander to the rapacious urge of the industrialists to make unlimited profits, it will not be able to fulfill the dream of a prosperous Pakistan in which all people enjoy the basic necessities of life. The government’s commitment to this goal will be tested by the consistency with which it scraps the anti-labor laws such as Industrial Relations Ordinance (IRO) 2002, makes federal and provincial Labour Departments effective and revises the industrial policy in consultation with labour leaders.
Speakers also called for adopting a national economic reliance policy to develop human resources, industry and agriculture and introduce agrarian reforms and amend the laws in conformity with ILO-Conventions ratified by Pakistan and enforce the basic laws including 7th Wage Board Award for journalists. Speakers highlighted the problems of workers including low wages, no social security, no pension and no fixed duty hours. Speakers criticize past government created bad law and order situation and started army operation in two provinces of Pakistan. Present government was ready to start negotiations with tribal in WANA and Waziristan to maintain peace, US does not want negotiations, they clearly said to Prime minister and foreign minister of Pakistan that we do not want to stop war in both provinces because they are terrorists, and foreign minister of Pakistan issued his statement and said that negotiations between Mehsood is stop now.

Speakers further narrated that home-based workers were even not registered as laborers and demanded the government take reformative steps for laborers’ rights.

Speakers said that labor laws should be implemented for peasants and laborers working on daily wages. The brick kilns workers across the country should be registered under labor laws to eliminate exploitation of workforce at the hands of employers. The national industry should be protected against ill effects of globalization and the World Trade Order (WTO), speakers demanded the government ratify ILO Conventions - 118, 110 and end the contract system. They demanded special ‘Rozgar schemes’ for labor women and special initiatives to educate illiterate women. They stressed the need to create awareness among workers regarding their rights. Speakers also protested against abnormal hike in prices of edibles and other utilities, unemployment due to closure of industries by power shortage and high cost of oil and gas.

They demanded an inquiry into financial irregularities under which 134 billions dollars loans were written off by the previous regime. They further demanded that the minimum salary of a worker equal to 10 grams of gold price with all social security to the working class. Speakers emphasis that people should elect people from their own class for the solution of their problems otherwise landlords and rich politician would continue exploitation of masses with their fake promises. Speakers said there were about 10 million home-based women workers in Pakistan but their work was totally invisible as they work at their home, mostly in towns and suburban areas. These workers were not recognized and thus become easy prey to exploitation by contractors and middlemen. They demanded the government to enact law in order to protect the rights of these women workers, they further demanded that government should maintain peace in country.

Throughout rally workers raised slogans for the acceptance of their demands and against anti workers policies of the government.

Gulzar Ahmed ChaudhryGeneral Secretary

All Pakistan Trade Union Pakistan

14-N, Industrial Area, Gulberg III, Lahore

Pakistan.

Tel: 92-42-5313906/5311319

Fax: 92-42-5314365 Email: ^{rubinawwo@nexlinx.net.pk}