LAHORE: All labour organisations across the province have unanimously rejected the Punjab Labour Code-2024 recently devised by the PML-N government in the province.

The labour leaders from various unions and alliances gathered to hold a Labour Conference at Bakhtiar Labour Hall on Saturday to raise their voice against the new labour code.

Labour Alliance Coordinator Hanif Ramay chaired the conference which was also attended by Khursheed Ahmad, Shamsur Rehman Sawati, Abdul Rehman Aasi, Usama Tariq, Nusrat Bashir Zafar, Syeda Ghulam Fatima, Aima Mahmood and others.

During the conference, the labour leaders unanimously condemned the labour code, terming it a direct attack on the rights and freedom of workers. They labelled the code as a tool crafted by foreign entities and international financial institutions to suppress the labour force and weaken the power of trade unions in Pakistan.

Term the code direct attack on rights and freedom of workers

The leaders expressed apprehensions that the new code would pave the way for widespread privatisation of public institutions that would jeopardise the job security and rights of countless workers.

“The Labour Code-2024 is not just a set of regulations, it’s an agenda driven by foreign countries and international monetary organisations to dismantle the labour movement in Pakistan,” declared Khursheed Ahmad, one of the senior labour leaders.

“This code is designed to curb the rights of workers, weaken trade unions and facilitate the privatisation of public institutions that serve the common people,” he said.

The labour leaders issued a stern warning to the Punjab government, saying that any attempt to implement the new code without thorough consultation with labour organisations and the inclusion of their recommendations would be met with a province-wide protest campaign. They emphasized that the government’s disregard for the input of labour representatives would force them to take direct action to protect the rights and freedoms of the workers.

“We are ready to launch a country-wide campaign against this unjust labour code if the government tries to impose it without our consultation,” said Ramay.

“The labour organisations of Punjab will not just watch as our rights are stripped away. We demand the government engage with us, address the faults in the code and work towards a fair solution that protects the interests of workers,” he demanded.

The labour leaders also expressed their commitment to upholding the constitutional rights of workers, particularly the freedoms guaranteed under Section 17 of the Constitution. They vowed not to tolerate any curtailment of these rights, including the freedom of expression and the right to form unions.

In a gesture of solidarity, the conference participants also extended their support to the workers of utility stores, who are currently protesting against the privatisation of their workplaces. The labour leaders pledged to stand by these workers in their fight against policies that threaten their livelihood.

The labour conference concluded with a firm resolve of the participants to continue the struggle for workers’ rights and to resist any policies that undermine their freedoms and job security. The labour organisations are now gearing up for what could be a significant confrontation with the Punjab government if their demands are not met.

Published in Dawn, September 1st, 2024