Labour departmentannunces War against abuse to child labourers

Lahore: Secretary Labour & Human Resources, Capt. (Retd) Muhammad Yousuf has said that Punjab government is taking solid measures for elimination of forced labour from small children with the cooperation of International Labour Organization, Employees Federation of Pakistan, labour organizations and NGOs throughout the province. After making Sahiwal a child labour free district, now the scope of this project is being extended to Jhelum, Jhang, Layya and Toba Tek Singh districts.

He expressed these views while addressing a seminar on “War against abuse to child labourers” held under the aegis of Labour Department and Employees Federation of Pakistan, here today. Director International Labour Organization (ILO) Mutayen Janjua, DG Labour Welfare Nadeem Aslam Chaudhary, President Employees Federation of Pakistan Nauman Khawaja, Vice President Zaki Ahmed Khan, Osama Tariq of Pakistan Workers Federation, Syed Masood Alam, brick-killan owners, representatives of labour organizations and NGOs also addressed the seminar.

A large number of citizens, factory workers, labourers, office-bearers of industrial organizations, auto workshops, small industries and farmers’ association were also present on the occasion. Secretary Labour said that the low income and unemployment of the parents compel the children to work which affects their education and darkens their future. He said that the Punjab government is striving for brining such affected children into education stream with the cooperation of ILO and other organizations.

He said that elimination of forced labour of children in Sahiwal is a result of joint team work and Punjab government is utilizing all resources for promoting this mission in other districts of the province. He informed that seven thousand labourers working at brick-kilns have been registered in order to ensure social security and protection for them and in case of death of a factory worker upto five lakh rupees are given, one lakh rupees each for marriage of two children of the workers while scholarship for the student getting education in engineering and medical field upto eight lakh rupees are given.

He informed that the amount of pension is being enhanced upto seven thousand rupees. Secretary Labour told that the working of the children less than 14 years of age is illegal as the innocent children are asset of the country.

On the concluding of seminar, memorial shields were distributed among the representatives of the associations extended cooperation for making Sahiwal a child labour free district.