BAHAWALPUR: Several processions and seminars marked on Monday the labour day in Bahawalpur and other cities of Punjab.

All Pakistan PWD Labour Union activists took out a procession, led by PWD union central secretary Afzal Masood Siraj, from their office near CMH chowk to Farid Gate. Speakers demanded the regularisation of people hired on work charge, increase in salaries and minimum workers` wages as Rs20,000.

Another procession was brought out by the Progressive Youth Alliance where speakers criticised the government for not bringing about any changes to lives and working conditions of workers.

Several seminars also highlighted workers` problems.

TOBA TEK SINGH: May Day processions were arranged across the district by political parties and labourorganisadons.

The PPP, Awami Workers` Party (AWP), Bhatta Mazdoor Union (brick kiln labourers` union) and Textile and Power Loom Worker`s Union activists took out processions from the grain market to Shahbaz Chowk separately.

The processions flouted a ban onsuch activities because of security threats. PPP`s rally was led by former Punjab minister and PPP district president Begum Neelum Jabbar. Bhatta Mazdoor Union`s Baba Nazir Masseh rally was addressed by Muhammad Shabbir, Sajida Perveen, Shagufta Bibi, Perveen Malik and Baba Nazir.

AWP`s gathering was addressed by Chaudhry Mohammed Zubair who said that the local labour department had failed to implement labour laws in the district as labourers had been denied of minimum wages and social security cards. He criticised local MNAs and MPAs for not getting the safe water project completed in four years.

Nadeem Ashraf Jogi said that power loom workers had no proper health and safety covers.

Rana Abdul Rehman and Muhammed Aslam also spoke.

SARGODHA: PPP and Wapda Hydroelectric Power Union staged processions to observe the labour day. PPP`s procession was led by former minister Tasneem Qureshi.

Activists chanted slogan `Go, nawaz, go` for government`s antilabour policies.

Wapda Hydroelectric Power Union activists, led by zonal chairman Muhammad Khan Niazi, paid homage to the sacrifice of Chicago heroes. They warned if any employee from the Bhalwal circlewas transferred, the union would suspend power supply to the district.

GUJRANWALA: Labour Action Committee, Jamaat-i-Islami, brick kiln labour unions, Aaj Ka Mazdoor Union and PPP activists organised seminars and processions where speakers showed solidarity with the working class.

The processions were held from Sheranwala Bagh to Gondalanwala Chowk where participants raised slogans in the favour of labour rights and for a 100 per cent increase in their salary and pensions.

Speakers included Waliur Rehman, Iqbal Dar, Akhlag Cheema, Main Attaur Rehman, Abdul Razzar Jathol, Muhammad Saleem, Nasiruddin Hamayyun Malik, Chaudhry Ghulam Rasool, Karamat Masih, Sahibzada Syed Hattam, Rao Akram Ali, Chaudhry Arshadullah Sandhu and Lala Asadullah Papa.

They demanded Rs25,000 as the minimum wage for industrial and domestic workers and the construction of a labour hall and a labour colony. The other demands included free medical facilities, end to contractual hiring, eleminiation of discriminatory laws, a 50 percent quota for women in jobs and a Rs50,000 loan on soft terms for workers to buy wheat.