Representatives of workers federations have expressed satisfaction over the newly enacted ‘Industrial Relations Act 2012’, which allowed the fundamental rights of freedom of association of the union guaranteed under Article 17-A of the Constitutional. They also urged upon the provinces to replicate such workers friendly legislation in the provinces. The labour representatives were speaking at a public seminar and consultation on ‘Industrial Relations Act 2012’ organized by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) here on Wednesday.
Ch. Manzoor Ahmed, Central Incharge, Peoples Labour Bureau (PLB) and former MNA PPP chaired the proceedings. He was of the view that provision of social security for labours is a universal right instead of provincial or regional matter. He talked of workers suffering after 18th amendments and said, ‘we welcome the 18th Amendment but during its approval the workers bodies were not taken into confidence.’ He said, devolution of Workers Welfare Fund and Employess Old Age Benefits Fund (EOBI) would affect the labour community in smaller provinces who had week financially position and also affect the workers families settled in provinces other than registered workers.