Govt determined to effectively protecting rights of labours: President, PM

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – In their separate messages on the occasion of International Labour Day, President Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan have reaffirmed the government commitment to effectively protecting the rights and welfare of the labours. In his message, the president paid rich tribute to the valiant and heroic struggle of the workers for their fundamental rights. He said this day is not only a reminder of the struggle of workers but also an acknowledgement of their contribution towards national growth and progress. The president said Ehsaas Emergency Cash Relief Program has been launched to provide immediate relief to the deserving class in the country. In his message, PM Imran Khan expressed his government's commitment to improve the working and living conditions of workers and to supplement their welfare by providing better housing, education facilities and health cover for them and their families. He said our religion has also emphasized the principles of social justice and respect for rights of people. The premier said that as workers' role is pivotal for economic development of any country, his government is committed to ensure that benefits of economic progress translated into prosperity of all sections of the populations including workers. Meanwhile, international Labour Day is being observed on Friday (today) with the renewed pledge to acknowledge and promote the dignity of labourers. The theme of this year Labour Day is “Uniting Workers for Social and Economic Advancement”. International Labour Day observed in the memory of massacre of labourers who laid their lives in 1886 in Chicago while protecting the rights of labourers. Today is a gazetted holiday, labour and traders organizations have chalked out special programmes to highlight the significance of the day. Pakistan’s first labor policy was devised in 1972, in which May 1 was declared an official holiday. Pakistan has been member of the ILO since independence in 1947. Pakistan has ratified 36 ILO conventions.