Senator Siraj ul Haq eats lunch with porters on World Labour Day

Lahore: Ameer, Jamaat e Islami, Pakistan, Senator Sirajul Haq, has said that there was no mechanism for the workers welfare in the country as the entire system aimed at the protection of the elite.

Addressing the Railway workers and collies at Lahore Railway station on the Laborur Day, he called for an end to the exploitation of the workers, workers’ share in the industrial production, registration of those working in hotels, workshops, cottage industries, the vendors and those working in houses, payment of minimum wages to them, besides lawful facilities of education, health, to them.

Sirajul Haq had lunch with the coolies at the Lahore railway station and also addressed a workers rally at Shere Bengal Colony, Ferozewala.

Stating that the government was unable to implement its minimum wages laws, the JI chief called for further raise in the EOBI pensions to Rs. 8000 in accordance with the announcement in the 2012-13 budget, and payment of arrears.

Sirajul Haq said that cheating was going on in the name of privatization. He said that corruption to the tune of Rs. 3000 billion had already been done under the cover of privatization. The government, he said, wanted to sell out important institutions like the Steel Mills, PIA, but the JI would not allow the rulers to go ahead with such mass killing of the workers.

He said the government had hung a sword on the workers’ heads in the name of privatization. Thousands of torture camps were working in the country in the name of contract system where the exploitation of the workers and labourers was going on. The government had not been able to enforce its decision regarding minimum wages and daily wages. The workers were not paid over time for the extra time of work.

Sirajul Haq said that thousands of workers were jobless in the country and the rulers had not framed any law for their welfare. Cruel mill owners and factory owners were continuing the exploitation of the workers. There was no security of service for the workers even after service of years and the factory owner could kick them out any moment. There was no institution to redress the grievances of the workers as the Labour Courts were also ineffective.

Continuing, the JI chief said that development works were completed only in posh areas as the slums and labour colonies remained neglected.

The JI chief condemning the mega corruption unearthed in the development plan for Sheikhpura district. He said such scandals came to surface every day and exposed the good governance claims of the Punjab government. He said it was strange that despite the registration of cases against the officers involved in the Citizens’ Community Board scandal, no action had been taken in this direction. He called for exposing the high ups at the back of the corrupt officers and prompt legal action against them.