Karachi, March 02, 2022 (PPI-OT):Women workers in Pakistan are facing immense problem on social, economic and political fronts. They are not getting equal wages for equal work. Their demand is peace, bread and equality, said workers leaders at a press conference here at Karachi Press Club (KPC) on Wednesday in connection with their Mehnatkash Aurat Rally of March 8.
General Secretary Home-based Women Workers Federation (HBWWF) Zehra Akbar Khan said the question of gender and economic emancipation of woman is the question that is directly related to the independence of society. If woman is demanding gender equality and economic freedom, she is in fact demanding to free the society. If the half of the population faces the worst social, political economic, cultural and gender-based discrimination, then the degradation and fall of the society is inevitable. Prevailing animosity towards woman and attitudes aimed at to disgrace her and the resultant mentality and laws are deep-rooted in tribal, feudal and capitalistic mode of production and the patriarchal mentality is also one of their dreadful manifestations.
She said in this background, we can see that the national laws, faith-based ideologies or so-called social norms are bent to prove that woman is a lesser creature as compared to man. A long history of thousands of years from the slavery era to ongoing modern period of capitalism has presented this anti-women nonsense and myths as undeniable facts. Resultantly, a major part of our society has unconsciously and consciously accepted woman as a slave, a personal property and possession and a second-class citizen and already decided that this status of woman in unchangeable. This is why the society, generally – vocally or silently -supports those quarters who come with the reasons and rationale to justify this inhuman attitude being meted out to woman.
Any step taken by woman for her economic, political and social freedom virtually makesher a criminal. When she leaves home for work or education, she is criticized for even her dress code, said Zehra Khan.
Zainab Nasir, Youth Leader of Alternate, regretted that not only the reactionaries, but also the so-called intellectuals, some anti-women TV anchors, elected members of assemblies, advisors, ministers and even the Prime Minister are included in those who declare the rising voice and resistance of women against inequality, disrespect, sexual torture, excesses and economic exploitation as unethical, immoral and against the settled social norms.
Karamat Ali, Convenor National Labour Council said in this backdrop, when poverty, deprivation, diseases, joblessness, homelessness and environmental changes are hitting hard the society, the worst affectees are women and children belonging to the working class. In this economic crisis, women are rapidly becoming a part of the production process as hired slaves, where they are deprived of all their basic rights. A cruel economic system is formed, in whose major part women are working as unpaid slaves. Besides economic exploitation, not only violence against women, children and transgenders has risen sharply, but there is also an unending storm of negative and disgracing propaganda against them. Every woman and every women’s movement are labelled as immoral when they start an organized struggle against centuries-long atrocities against women with a demand to accept woman as a human being, and give her due respect as a person, besides respecting her economic and social equality.
Ruksana, member All Lady Health Workers Employee Union said that the first decisive war against this centuries-long disgraceful slavery of woman began in 1820 in America when women workers belonging to textile industry revolted, which is now known as March 8, the symbol of a shining struggle of women of whole world, especially the working women. As the great revolutionary Baghat Singh with the echoes of his bomb attacks had compelled the deaf and dumb rulers of the British colonial system to hear the demand of freedom, the emerging movement of women with its slogans and demands has challenged the illiteracy, reactionary mentality, lack of awareness and socioeconomic injustice prevailing in our society and thus rattled the exploiter forces. This challenge of women is against the tribal, feudal and capitalistic systems and their anti-women mentality and patriarchal values.
Shakeela Khan, President Home Based Women Bangle Workers Union Hyderabad said that the movement of women is a struggle for bringing a gender justice and socioeconomic freedom in society and to end the tendencies of violence. This struggle is against anti-peace forces, social taboos, anti-environmental projects and growing homelessness. It is also against the unbridled price hike in the country. It is against the high rates of flour, pluses, cooking oil, sugar, rice and vegetables that have gone beyond the reach of common man. It is also against skyrocketing rise in rates of petrol, electricity, gas and school fees. Millions of working women, on the footsteps of the textile women workers would fight for their rights till their final victory.
Sabhagi Bheel, Leader of Hari Workers Said that agriculture workers especially women workers worse effected by the feudal exploitation, they were deprived off all social and economical rights.
Zehra Khan said that this year the women workers have decided to stage a huge ‘woman worker rally’ under the slogan of ‘Peace, Bread and Equality’ on March 8, as per the real spirit and ideology of this great day. This rally would march from Fuwara Chowk to the Arts Council at 3:00 pm. A cultural program would be held at the end of the rally. Besides thousands of women workers, Haris and women home-based workers, a large number of female students, transgenders and other workers would attend the rally.
The speakers demanded:
1. Equal wages for equal work.
2. Wages should be increased in proportion to the price hike.
3. Difference in wages on the basis of gender should be done away with.
4. All workers including home-based workers and Haris should be registered with social security and pension institutions.
5. Maternity leaves should be increased and as per labour laws, women workers during the maternity period should be given fully-paid leaves.
6. Women should be given protection at workplaces and vigilance committees should be formed as per law in all institutions.
7. At workplaces where majority of workers is women, opening child care centers should be made mandatory.
8. Maximum working hours should be eight hours a day. Forcing workers to work on weekly holidays should be stopped.
9. All discriminatory laws against women should be abolished.
10. The tribal and feudal systems that have enslaved the women for centuries should be annulled.
11. Kidnapping, sexual torture and forced conversion of Hindi Hari women should be stopped.
12. Women should be given representation in all elected houses as per their share in population.
13. Demolition of old settlements including those belonging to labours in the name of development should be stopped. People must not be made homeless.
14. Violence against women, children, minorities and transgenders should be declared as crime.
15. Sindh Government should enact legislation for transgender and protect their rights.
16. lady health workers should be given their scale and should be registered under pension scheme.
Participants of the press conference:
Saira Feroz, General Secretary United HB Garment Workers Union, Bebo Haider, Trans Right Activist President Subrang Society, Zainab Nasir, Youth leader of Alternate, Sabhagi, Sindh Agriculture General Workers Union, Elsa Qazi, Student Activist, Moomal Nasir, Doctor, Asghar Dasti, Head IR Department, Federal Urdu University, Karamat Ali, Convenor National Labour Council, Nasir Mansoor NTUF, Aqib Hussain, Alternate Youth Group.
For more information, contact:
Home Based Women Workers Federation (HBWWF)
726, Mashrique Centre, Block 14, Gulshan-e-Iqbal,
Karachi, Pakistan
Tel: +92-21-37075324
Website: https://hbwwf.org/