Governor Punjab Sardar Saleem Haider Khan has said that Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has always been a strong voice for the rights and welfare of workers.
He was speaking as special guest at National Labour Conference organized by Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung at a local Country Director (FES) Dr. Al-Mut Karimi, Country Programme Advisor Abdullah Dayo, Chairman Sindh Human Rights Commission Iqbal Ahmad Dithu, Sagheer Bukhari, senior labour union leader, Khalid Mahmood and a large number of labour leaders across the country were present on the occasion.
Addressing the participants of ceremony, Sardar Saleem Haider Khan said that the government was committed to the dignity, rights and welfare of the workers. He said that May 25,1990 was a historic day when martyred Benazir Bhutto laid the foundation of Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) Pakistan along with former German Prime Minister Willy Brandt at the Prime Minister House.
He said that he was thankful to the leadership of Pakistan Peoples party’s leadership especially President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari, Chairman Bilal Bhutto Zardari who reposed their confidence in a worker like him.
The Governor Punjab said that the best labor laws were introduced by Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. He said that as Prime Minister Shaheed Benazir. Bhutto restored all the rights of the workers which were usurped by a dictator. He said that Shaheed Benazir Bhutto made tireless efforts to provide maximum employment opportunities to the poor class and provided numerous jobs.
He said that the PPP always talked about the workers’ rights. He said that when PPP came to power in 2008, Yosuf Raza Gilani restored the labour union. He said that PPP’s initiative for the labour class would be written in golden letters in history. He said that the minimum fixed wages of the labourer is 32,000, but unfortunately he does not get even that. Saleem Haider said that we have to play a positive role for the betterment of the country. Governor Punjab said that from 2008 to 2013 is the period of restoration of labor unions. He said that in the coalition government, we formed a committee under the leadership of Qadir Mandokhel and struggled for the sacked employees. He said that the PPP was a party of workers. He said that he had been a worker since 1997 and have reached here after constant struggle.
