On the occasion of the International Labor Day, 2024 All Sindh Lady Health Workers and Employees Union (ASLHWEU) organised a rally that commenced from Taluka Hospital in collaboration with Public Service International (PSI) and Workers Education and Research Organisation (WERO).

A public assembly was also organised here at Faqeer Hussain Hall.

The speakers to the assembly along with participants of the rally laid out the problems of lady health workers face in regards to poor working conditions and frugal amenities.

The speakers also listed a set of their demands from the government.

They asserted that till these demands are not met, and till lady health workers don’t get the insisted upon rights, their struggle will continue.

Abdul Rehman Thahim, Ms. Haleema Laghari (President of ASLHWEU), Shama Gullani (General Secretary, ASLHWEU), Mir Zulfiqar (General Secretary, WERO), Rafia Gulani (Human Rights defender) and representatives of trade unions and civil society organisations addressed the public Assembly.

The rally was attended by a large number of lady health workers, lady health supervisors, drivers, representatives of trade unions and CSOs from all over Sindh.

Lady Health Workers have been an integral part of the healthcare system of this country.

Doing indispensable work since the development of the program in 1994, lady health workers have been on the frontlines of administering vaccines and educating women about maternal health.

The speakers asserted that keeping in mind their vast contributions these workers were poorly compensated.

Long standing political and economic instability in the country coupled with poor policies has put us into massive debt.

On top of this, the economic burden put on the country after the floods was unprecedented.

Pakistan had to see the worst of a crisis it did not contribute to, thus national debts should either be waived or delayed to pay for rebuilding efforts.

As we stand, there are cuts in the funding of the healthcare sector and push from the IMF to further decrease subsidies and increase taxes.

Workers, already earning barely livable wages, are the ones who have been and will continue to take the brunt of these shortcomings of our government.

On the restoration of the health risk allowance, the speakers maintained that the recent inflation made it imperative.

Prior to its discontinuation during COVID, the health risk allowance became an integral part of the household income of the workers which led to severe hits to the domestic budget of those who used to receive it.

Lady health workers do thankless, tiring and often dangerous work, and have a right to the health risk allowance.

A higher pay with better amenities like proper health insurance, social security, maternity leave, overtime and gratuity is the right of lady health workers.

The speakers also said that the lack of service structure meant decades at a job without promotion which is incredibly demolishing, they also deserve a job scale which is more in accordance to their length of service and educational qualifications.

Moreover, the negative attitude around the polio vaccine has made administering it a dangerous job.

Polio workers have been victims of violent assaults during the polio vaccine campaign, rendering multiple injuries and tragic deaths.

The speakers demanded that the government ensure that workers participating in the polio awareness campaigns and dispensing polio vaccine be given foolproof security.

Along with that, the families of the people killed and injured during the campaign be compensated too.

The speakers asserted that privatization of healthcare services under the IFI’s conditions is incredibly alarming.

It is in violation of the workers basic human rights as it puts their jobs and income at risk.

In the wake of the IMF pushing to privatize more nationalized institutions, it is imperative the government resist the pressure and stop the process of privatization.

It is an injustice towards the poor and workers, being a risk to their incomes and counterintuitive to the achievement of prosperity in society,

The recent floods have massively impacted rural communities.

Lady health workers, despite being a part of the affected population, did tireless work in tent cities and in flooded communities to avert the maternal health crisis that arose as a result of the floods.

Providing pre and post-natal care to mothers and infants, lady health workers prevented maternal deaths and helped bring life into this world in hazardous, unsanitary and unsafe conditions.

The speakers commended the bravery of the lady health workers in a time of unprecedented climate catastrophe.

The collective demands of the speakers and participants boiled down to:

· Restoration of the health risk allowance for all health workers.

· Service structure should be promptly made

· Designing and issuing of service rules

· Empty vacancies on the posts of lady health supervisors, lady health workers, drivers, and account supervisors should be filled.

· Lady health supervisors should be provided supervisory allowance and drivers be provided travelling allowance.

· Standardized pay across Sindh for polio workers

· Polio workers should be provided fool-proof security during campaigns; those injured or killed should be compensated.

· Workplace be made safe from incidences of sexual harassment.

· Government should ratify the ILO Convention C-190.

· Workers should be provided social security, gratuity, maternal leave, healthcare and pension.

· Privatization and outsourcing of healthcare and other utility services should be stopped.

· Increased funding of the public healthcare sector.

· International community should come together to help and aid rebuilding efforts in Pakistan after the catastrophic floods.

· As Pakistan has a negligible role in climate change, yet is one of the countries expected to be the most affected, our national debts should be waived to alleviate the toll climate disasters have taken on our economy.

The participants of the rally and assembly along with organizers were seen to be determined to fight and struggle for their rights until all their demands are met.

LAHORE: PM Shehbaz Sharif has vowed to ensure welfare and prosperity of laborers.

He was addressing a gathering of laborers in Lahore in connection with International Labor Day today.

The Prime Minister urged businessmen and investors to accord top priority to welfare of their workers while formulating policies. Shehbaz Sharif said that the country could not make progress without prosperity of laborers.

He said the government fully acknowledges the hard work of laborers and determined to ensure their welfare and prosperity.

Referring to his recent visit of Saudi Arabia, Shehbaz Sharif said the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and other leadership desired to see Pakistan a prosperous and strong country.

He said the delegations of Saudi businessmen and investors would visit Pakistan very soon.

ISLAMABAD: Department of Teacher Education in collaboration with Office of Research, Innovation & Commercialization (ORIC) at the International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) organized a panel discussion to mark the Labor day here on Wednesday.

Panelists and participants discussed the critical themes surrounding the rights of children to education and the urgent need to address the issue of child labor.

Dr. Shamsa Aziz, Chairperson Department of Teacher Education briefed about the main idea behind arranging the panel discussion.

The Panelists included Dr. Tabassum Naz Director Schools Federal Directorate of Education, Islamabad, Ms. Nazneen Zehra Deputy Director (Planning) Basic Education Community Schools, Islamabad, Ms. Shumaila Aslam Principal Ghori Career School, Islamabad, Ms. Tabassum Shairwani Khan PhD Education Scholar, IIUI and Ms. Sana Naseer BECS School.

The panel was moderated by Dr. Fouzia Ajmal.

Under the theme “Empowering Futures: Right to Education vs. Child Labour,” the discussion encompassed a wide range of topics, each shedding light on different dimensions of the issue.

The panel unanimously agreed on the significance of education as a fundamental right for every child.

They emphasized that access to education not only empowers individuals but also plays a vital role in shaping a prosperous society.

Addressing the underlying socio-economic factors contributing to child labor was another focal point of the discussion, the panelists stressed the need for holistic approaches that tackle poverty, inequality, and lack of opportunities, which often force children into labor.

Panelists highlighted the pivotal role of teachers in eradicating child labor and promoting education.

They emphasized the role of educators in creating inclusive and supportive learning environments that encourage children to stay in school and pursue their dreams.

The main takeaways of the discourse included community involvement as a crucial factor in combating child labor.

The panelists highlighted the importance of community partnerships and grassroots initiatives in identifying at-risk children and providing them with educational opportunities.

According to the organizing departments, the panel discussion served as a platform for stakeholders from academia, government, and civil society to exchange ideas, share best practices, and chart a course of action towards ensuring every child’s right to education.

The Chief Guest, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Sarwar, Dean of the Faculty of Education, IIUI, commended the efforts of the Department of Teacher Education, Dr. Fouzia Ajmal, Focal Person of the activity and students’ organizers (and reiterated the university’s commitment for promoting education as a tool for social transformation.

The event concluded with a renewed sense of urgency and determination to address the complex challenges of child labor and educational inequality.

The participants expressed their commitment to working collaboratively towards building a future where every child has the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive.

This event was held in auditorium Fatima tuz Zahra block (Female Campus) IIUI which was attended by female students and faculty members of the department.

The theme of this year’s Labor Day was to ‘ensure workplace safety and health amidst climate change’.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has greeted laborers across the world on International Labor Day today. In her special message, she vowed to create a society where every laborer is valued.

Meanwhile, in his message, Punjab Governor Muhammad Baligh-ur-Rahman urged employers to ensure protection of workers’ rights and enforcement of safety laws at the workplace.

On the other hand, an event was organized in Governor House Karachi to distribute ration bags among the needy workers. Speaking on the occasion, the Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori said more than two thousand ration bags have been distributed among workers.

In his message, the Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah also expressed commitment to make policies for welfare of laborers.

In his message on the Day, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Haji Ghulam Ali has acknowledged the role of laborers in national development.

A rally was also taken out at Bacha Khan Chowk in Peshawar. It was arranged by the Population Welfare Department Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti has vowed to take concrete measures to provide maximum facilities to labors in the province.

In his message on Labor Day, he said all legitimate rights of workers would be ensured.

In his message, Governor Balochistan Governor Malik Abdul Wali Kakar also lauded efforts of laborers in development of the country.

In his message on the Day, Chief Minister Gilgit-Baltistan Haji Gulbar Khan has assured protection of workers’ rights.

He said Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly has approved the social protection policy to protect the rights of workers.

KARACHI: Activists of Home Based Women Workers Federation Pakistan held a rally to mark the International Labor Day.

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