Faisalabad: Human Rights Focus Pakistan (HRFP) observed Labour Day 2024 with the theme of “Ensuring Safety and Health at Work in a Changing Climate” at Vision Hall Faisalabad.

The participants were from different fields of life, who shared their viewpoints and experiences on the topic and raised voices and recommendations. 

Naveed Walter president of Human Rights Focus Pakistan (HRFP) said that Pakistan became a member of the International Labor Organization (ILO) right after its independence in 1947, to promote social justice, human and social rights, and ratifying 36 ILO conventions of which eight are core conventions. A lack of implementations is still existing, he added.

Naveed Walter said further that on May 1st, as per 1972 Pakistan’s first labor policy; there was a public holiday in Pakistan, but the laborers had no holidays yet because if they did not work, they could not survive. He said that on 1st May laborers discussed but most of them didn’t even know that they had been discussed, celebrated, and the actual purpose they don’t know. The laborers just work, he added.  

Naveed Walter urged for standing with laborers, ensuring their rights, and practicing at workplaces that these laborers are also human, they too deserve to be appreciated for all their hard work and dedication.

Ijaz Ghauri said that the revolution started in 1870, it was at its peak in 1886. In 1890, the legislation started on demand and is still ongoing, but the main problem is that the laborers still are not aware of these laws.

James Lal said, we should not give fish to laborers but give them tools and skills to catch fish, by doing this the problems will be resolved, otherwise it will become worse. He said that earlier in all countries the conditions of common people were also worse, and slavery was common, like Chicago they changed, demands, and got their rights successfully, he added.

John Victor said a laborer has very low wages. Even the utility bills are harder for them to pay.  We can’t imagine how they survive, in their financial sufferings, he added.

Manzoor Anthony said we should highly acknowledge the sacrifices of laborers; either working in a factory or brick kiln, they should get better wages and rights as per labor laws. They also deserve insurance, social security, and the all facilities that are essentials but have not been provided yet, he added

Younas Masih shared some recent stories of laborers who faced violence and problems, that levels when one was killed in a brick kiln by a factory owner, and another hanged himself in the house and died due to financial issues. 

 Javaid Masih said, that as a daily wage laborer, whether we work or not, we must fulfill the needs of our family, and have to pay the electricity, and gas bills, etc. Climate change is also one of the main reasons when we could not work, he added.

HRFP Program Coordinator Shadman John welcomed the participants and introduced and shared the theme and objectives of the event. HRFP Field Coordinator Hamdosh Samuel thanked the participants and unanimously passed the recommendations to submit to authorities and decision-makers.