Day: January 13, 2022

Islamabad, January 13, 2022 (PPI-OT):A national collective of women workers employed in formal sectors titled Women Workers Alliance (WWA) and 13 Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CCIs) including those representing federal and provincial capitals resolved to work together to ameliorate the working conditions for women as a means to improve economic growth of the country.

The unique gathering of the representatives of employers and workers was facilitated by Trust for Democratic Education and Accountability (TDEA) under its project Enhancing Women Workers Access to Market (EWAM), which is supported by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

The members of the National Steering Committee of WWA and the presidents or their nominees of CCIs representing Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta, Haripur, Gujranwala, Mardan, Rahimyar Khan, Sukkur, Faisalabad, Jhelum and Mirpurkhas were in the attendance.

In a Joint Declaration agreed by the CCIs leadership and WWA’s National Steering Committee, both parties resolved to establish Joint Employer-Women Workers Working Groups in aforementioned districts. These groups will act as a bridge between employees and employers to resolve issues related to provision of minimum wage, employees’ contracts, separate washrooms for women, and formation of protection against harassment at workplace committees.

The Joint Declaration also called upon the government to complement this unique understanding by updating labour laws, ensuring their enforcement and introducing administrative measures to improve the working conditions of women workers.

The Declaration also called upon the government to incentivize the employers for compliance with labour standards as set in the international conventions and national laws on the subject in order to provide improved working conditions at the workplace, especially for women.

His Excellency Ambassador of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Wouter Plomp, Parliamentary Secretary for Commerce, Trade, and Industry Ms. Aliya Hamza Malik, Chairperson Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Ms. Shandana Gulzar Khan, TDEA Director Programs Muddassir Rizvi, and EWAM Team Lead Uzma Farogh also addressed the gathering.

Ms. Shandana Gulzar emphasized the need for the government to take ownership of the issues facing women workers. She drew attention to the economic losses incurred due to under-representation of women in national labour force. Ms. Aliya Hamza Malik underscored the importance of the workers’ perspective especially of women in resolving issues related to commerce and trade in the country.

Mr. Muddassir Rizvi, TDEA’s Director Programs, highlighting the importance of WWA, said that the WWA has not only challenged the dominant patriarchal ideas that had undervalued the work of women and hindered their attempts at organizing, but the unique approach of coordination and collaboration has also been helpful in setting new practices for trade unionism.

Towards the end of the program, Mr. Wouter Plomp, Ambassador of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherland in Pakistan stated that recognition of an issue is the first step towards its resolution. He recognized the Joint Declaration of CCIs and WWA a major leap towards enhanced economic participation of women workers.

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Islamabad, January 13, 2022 (PPI-OT):The National Assembly approved the Finance (Supplementary) Bill, 2021 on Thursday amid opposition’s protest, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its daily Factsheet.

Following are key observations of the proceedings during fourth sitting of 40th session:

Members’ Participation

The National Assembly met for seven hours and eight minutes; however, the proceedings remained suspended for 28 minutes due to prayer break.

The sitting started at 04:50 pm against the scheduled time of 04:00 pm.

The speaker chaired the sitting for four hours and 29 minutes while the remaining sitting was presided over by the deputy speaker.

The leader of the house (Prime Minister) attended the sitting for three hours and 35 minutes.

The opposition leader was present for two hours and 27 minutes.

A newly elected PML-N lawmaker took oath and signed the roll.

The parliamentary leaders of PML-N, PPPP, ANP, BAP, BNP, MQMP, GDA, AMLP and MMAP attended the sitting.

As many as 120 (35 percent) lawmakers were present at the outset and 138 (40 percent) at the adjournment of the sitting.

Nine minority lawmakers were present.

Output

The House passed the Finance (Supplementary) Bill, 2021 through a voice vote along with amendments.

The House approved the government’s amendments to the proposed bill while voting also took place on 33 amendments moved by the opposition to the supplementary finance bill that were subsequently rejected through a majority as well as voice vote.

Adviser to the Prime Minister on Parliamentary Affairs presented the Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government Ordinance 2021.

Moved by the Minister for finance and revenue, the House passed the State Bank of Pakistan (Amendment) Bill, 2022 after passage of the motion for its immediate consideration. Eight lawmakers spoke on it for 49 minutes.

The House passed 15 other bills which were the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2021; the Islamabad Healthcare Facilities Management Authority Bill, 2021; the Allied Health Professionals Council Bill, 2021; the Pakistan Nursing Council (Amendment) Bill, 2021; the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2021] (Section-8); the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (Section-2, 8, 9 and 43B); the University of Engineering and Emerging Technology Bill, 2021; the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (Amendment) Bill, 2021; the National Information Technology Board Bill, 2019; the Protection against Harassment of women at the Workplace (Amendment) Bill, 2022; the Government Savings Bank (Amendment) Bill, 2021; the Post Office National Savings Certificates (Amendment) Bill, 2021; the Protection of Parents Bill, 2021 and the National Metrology Institute of Pakistan Bill, 2021.

The House deferred four government bills which were the Employees’ Old Age Benefits (Amendment) Bill, 2021; the Pakistan Maritime Zones Bill, 2021; the Whistle-blower Protection and Vigilance Commission Bill, 2021 and the Pakistan Global Institute Bill, 2021.

The House adopted two resolutions seeking extension of the National Accountability (Second Amendment) Ordinance, 2021 and the National Accountability (Third Amendment) for a further period of 120 days.

The House did not consider a motion for consideration of the Global Change Impact Studies Centre (Amendment) Bill, 2021 in the joint sitting.

Two statutory reports on the agenda were not taken up.

Representation and Responsiveness

The House neither took up two calling attention notices nor considered a motion of thanks to the President for his address to both Houses and a motion under Rule 259.

Order and Institutionalization

The opposition protested for two hours and 22 minutes during the consideration of legislative agenda.
Lawmakers belonging to PPPP pointed out the quorum on multiple occasions but the Chair ignored it.

The House was adjourned to meet again on Friday, January 14, 2022 at 11:00 am.

Transparency

‘Orders of the Day’ was available to legislators, observers and public.

Attendance of lawmakers was available to media and observers.

For more information, contact:
Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN)
FAFEN Representative
FAFEN Secretariat 224, Margalla Road F-10/3 – Islamabad
Tel: +92-51-2211026
Fax: +92-51-2211047
Cell: +92-321-5017355, +92-301-8549188
Email: media@fafen.org
URL: www.fafen.org