International Labor Day is being celebrated today (Thursday) with a renewed focus on the protection of workers‘ rights.
The theme for this year‘s day is ‘Social justice and decent work. Safety and health of workers‘. An official holiday is declared on this day in nearly every nation including Pakistan.
Rallies and demonstrations are being organised by various trade unions, workers’ organisations and non-governmental organisations on this day to highlight the basic rights of workers.
President Zardari’s message
In his message, President Asif Ali Zardari has stressed upon the need to equip the workers and youth with modern skills to meet the challenges of an ever-changing job market.
The president invited the governments, private sector firms, educational institutions, and civil society to work together in building a holistic ecosystem for the skill development of labor.
Today brings to mind the historic battle that has been fought by workers worldwide for their dignity and rights. Today, we reaffirm that we remain steadfast in their empowerment, equitable compensation, security of employment, and social security,” President Secretariat Press Wing quoted the president, issuing a statement in a press release.
Their workers and laboring classes, President Zardari stated, were the fulcrum around which turned their economy and country’s progress.
They construct infrastructure, operate industries, plough lands and push economy forward, he declared adding “It is our workers who keep our manufacturing industries, agriculture, small and medium enterprise, government and other public sectors afloat. Our workers are our pride, and we owe our national progress to their sheer hard work and efforts.”
PM Shehbaz‘s message
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif renewed Pakistan‘s unflinching commitment to ensuring safe, healthy, and dignified conditions for its workers — the actual driving force behind our country’s growth and strength.
He emphasized that for the very first time, all Pakistani workers enjoy a National Occupational Safety and Health Profile, making workplaces across Pakistan safer, healthier, and stronger.
Our government has made significant strides in expanding the coverage and reach of institutions like the Employees‘ Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) and the Workers Welfare Fund (WWF), so that the benefits of our labor protections are shared more equally by all segments of the workforce,” the prime minister further added.
He added at the same time, skill development programs, specifically through the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) and the Technical Education and Vocational Training Authorities (TEVTAs), are being intensified, with particular emphasis on enabling youth and women with demand-driven vocational training.
On this significant day, I call upon all the stakeholders, including the employers, employees, civil society, and the government to come together and develop a culture of respect for labour, respect for their rights, and opportunities of decent work for everyone,” he added.