Karachi: A large rally organized by the National Trade Union Federation Pakistan (NTUF) and the Home-Based Women Workers Federation Pakistan (HBWWF) took place in Karachi, drawing attention to a range of labor issues. Protesters marched from Regal Chowk to the Karachi Press Club, voicing their opposition to wage nonpayment, the contract labor system, and other policies perceived as anti-worker and anti-environment.
According to a statement by Home-Based Women Workers Federation, the rally saw significant participation from workers, including women carrying red flags, banners, and placards with their demands. Leading the protest were Comrades Zehra Khan and Riaz Abbasi. The rally featured speeches from various labor leaders who criticized the Sindh and Punjab governments, along with the International Labor Organization (ILO), for allegedly conspiring to legalize third-party contract systems.
Nasir Mansoor of NTUF accused the ILO of violating its own conventions and announced plans for legal action against anti-worker measures, both nationally and internationally. He highlighted ongoing efforts to collaborate with other South Asian labor organizations for a collective response.
Prominent labor leader Habibuddin Junaidi emphasized the historical struggles of Pakistan’s working class and asserted the need to continue these efforts. He called the contract system and third-party employment detrimental to labor rights, urging the government to make them illegal.
Zehra Khan of HBWWF criticized the Sindh Labor Ministry for its failure to ensure the payment of declared wages, leaving a significant percentage of workers without minimum wages. She urged PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to intervene, citing the ministry’s inaction as damaging to the party’s reputation.
Qazi Khizar of HRCP discussed rising unemployment and poverty, attributing these issues to anti-worker policies enforced by international financial institutions. He noted discrepancies between government claims of economic growth and the reality faced by millions of unemployed and impoverished citizens.
Other speakers, including Saeed Baloch of PFF and Dr. Asghar Ali Dashti from Federal Urdu University, highlighted issues such as workplace safety, education, and the exploitation by international fashion brands. They stressed the importance of an informed workforce and condemned the government’s prioritization of elite privileges.
The rally concluded with a list of demands, including the criminalization of the contract labor system, ensuring permanent employment, payment of wages through bank accounts, and adherence to labor laws by international fashion brands. Labor leaders also announced a national meeting next week to strategize collective actions against anti-worker policies.