Karachi: Labour leaders have expressed strong opposition to the Sindh Labour Code, labeling it a “Charter of Slavery” and vowing to resist its implementation by any means necessary. The code, which they argue undermines workers’ rights, was a focal point of a recent labour conference in Karachi, organized by the National Trade Union Federation (NTUF) Pakistan and the Home-Based Women Workers Federation (HBWWF).

During the conference, held with substantial participation from workers across the textile, garment, shoe, and leather sectors, NTUF representative Raiz Abbasi criticized the International Labour Organization (ILO) for allegedly collaborating with provincial governments to subvert workers’ rights. Abbasi contended that the Sindh Labour Code seeks to legitimize exploitative practices such as the contract system and suppress the right to unionize.

The proposed code, according to Abbasi, introduces “advance loans” that effectively condone bonded labour, brushing aside existing laws like the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1992. He argued that these measures contradict not only national laws but also international conventions, threatening to reintroduce slavery under the guise of legal reform.

Zehra Khan of HBWWF accused the ILO and international financial institutions of promoting an agenda that favors industrialists over workers. She criticized the Sindh government for progressing with the code without consulting labour organizations, despite earlier promises to do so.

Qamar Ul Hassan of IUF warned the Sindh government to avoid following Punjab’s example of enforcing the code without adequate consultation, warning of potential disgrace for pursuing such policies.

Nasir Mansoor of NTUF pointed to the government’s failure to address wage issues, noting that the minimum wages across provinces remain insufficient. He highlighted the widespread illegal dismissal of workers, suppression of protests, and increased harassment and violence against women workers.

The conference concluded with demands for halting the code’s imposition without worker consultation, declaring a living wage as the minimum standard, and ensuring mandatory social security and pension registration. It called for the dismissal of corrupt officials obstructing unionization and urged international brands to respect workers’ rights agreements.

The event featured speakers from various labour organizations, including the People’s Labour Bureau, National Labour Federation, and Democratic Workers Union, who collectively emphasized the need for unity and continued resistance against the perceived anti-worker legislation.