Govt.is formulating a policy for home based workers : Raja Ashfaq

Lahore:  Provincial Minister Labor and Human Resource Raja Ashfaq Sarwar has said that formulating a policy for Home Based Workers and providing them opportunities to work in exploitation and draconian free environment is the priority of Punjab Government. He said that a draft of Home Based Workers Act 2013, to ensure provision of rights and concessions to home based workers has been sent to law department after cabinet’s approval, which will be presented in Punjab Assembly after its various articles’ inspection.

Provincial Minister labor Raja Ashfaq Sarwar was addressing a seminar on home based workers policy, arranged at Flattiez Hotel in collaboration with an NGO named Home Net.

Managing Director Home Net Umelaila, MPA Saira Iftkhar, Dr.Aalia Aftab, Mehnaz Rafi, acting DG  Labour Department Syed Hasnat Javed, Mohsin Abbas and other were also present at the eve. Giving a brief to Provincial Minister Labor and Human Resource Raja Ashfaq Sarwar regarding formulation of policies for home based workers, Home Net’s focal person Maria Kokab notified that 12 million women in Pakistan are home based workers who are engaged in production of various products, sewing, carpet industry but neither they are considered as professional workers nor they are provided with other facilities and concessions on account of which they are facing problems in bulk.

Addressing the seminar, Provincial Minister Raja Ashfaq Sarwar said that all the affairs related to labor have been handed over to provincial governments after 18th amendment and now Punjab Government will eliminate their exploitation and indicate the fundamental principles for their treatment in the society. He said that acceptance of home based workers’ importance is equal to strengthen the economy of Pakistan because our society is constituted on a large number of home based workers and to legislate for their welfare is an important need of time.

Talking to media, Provincial Minister Labor and Human Resource Raja Ashfaq Sarwar said that provision of equal resources and facilities to all citizens is the prime responsibility of Government. Moreover he said that keeping inflation in view, equally increasing the wage of home based workers and giving them social security is his mission and Government of the Punjab will leave no stone unturned in this regard.