Pakistan Celebrates Labour Day Today
The celebrations and seminars held across the country aim to raise awareness about the challenges faced by workers and the need for collective action to address growing inequality and ensure a safe and dignified work environment for all labourers.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to protecting workers' rights and safety on International Labour Day, emphasizing the crucial role of workers in the nation's economic development.
The President and Prime Minister highlighted the importance of skill development for workers and youth to meet the demands of an evolving job market. They also detailed reforms undertaken by the government, including the ratification of international conventions and the expansion of welfare institutions. Both leaders urged stakeholders to work together to promote a safe and dignified environment for all labourers.
A seminar hosted by the Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (Piler) on International Labour Day addressed the failure to implement the minimum wage law in Pakistan. Speakers at the seminar highlighted the country's economic instability, spiralling inflation, and currency devaluation, which have eroded workers' purchasing power. The current minimum wage of Rs37,000 is deemed insufficient, with an estimated 800 million workforce not receiving even this amount.
Labour activists and trade unionists called for a return to labour-based organising, modernising union strategies, and increasing leverage against employers. They also emphasized the need for better worker classification, proper registration with social security institutions, and the implementation of the minimum wage law. The seminar drew international perspective from Brazil, where the minimum wage is linked directly to inflation, ensuring workers' purchasing power remains protected.
As Pakistan observes Labour Day as a national public holiday, the government and private offices, educational institutions, and markets will remain closed nationwide. The day serves as a reminder of the need for solidarity with the working class and the promotion of their rights and welfare.