PROTECTION OF LABOUR RIGHTS IMPERATIVE FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT: SAYS NA SPEAKER.

            Islamabad; April 30, 2012: Dr. Fehmida Mirza, Speaker, National Assembly has said that any nation’s economic strength and vigour was determined by the status and standard of living of its labour class and protection of their rights. She said this in her message on May Day being commemorated world over tomorrow.

            Dr. Fehmida Mirza said that the labour class plays a vital role in the development progress of a country, therefore, it was essential to ensure their welfare and payment of proper and timely remuneration for their services. The Speaker said that Islam lays a great emphasis on the welfare and proper award of labour. She said that all the civilized societies in the world have legislated to ensure the rights and welfare of t heir labour forces. The Speaker said that the commemoration of May Day is a tribute to all those who sacrificed their lives for labour rights and renewal of determination to ponder and work for betterment of labour class.

            The Speaker said that Pakistan was bless by Allah with enormous labour potential which if properly taped may create huge economic activity in the country. The Speaker said that Pakistani labour force was rendering valuable services and contribution in the economics of other countries and was great source of our foreign exchange earnings. She said that the present democratic government was pursuing labour friendly policies and have made legislation for ensuring welfare of the labour class in the country. She said that policies of the government were continuation of the commitment of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto toward labour class. She said that government had increased the minimum remuneration to the unskilled labour and distributed shares of the public sector companies to their employees. She said that the steps of government have rejuvenated the zeal of the work force beside created their ownership in the public sector companies.

            The Speaker said that the rights and duties go side by side and urged the labour class of the country to work hard with devotion to harness the country’s resources for the prosperity and development of the country and its people.