LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Labour Wing president Rana Samee has expressed his disappointment with political parties, stating that no party has genuinely worked for the betterment of labourers after coming into power. He believes that once in power, all political parties, including PTI, forget about the labourers as they are ruled by the elites.

Mr Samee, speaking to Dawn on the eve of Labour Day on Sunday, pointed out that the prices of daily use items have increased significantly, up to 48 percent, which has led to a lack of trust in political parties among the labourers. He warned that such a situation might prompt the labourers to revolt, reminiscent of the Chicago revolution witnessed on May 1, 1886.Expressing his regret, Mr Samee stated that the PTI has not presented any agenda or plan for the welfare of labourers. He criticised PTI for including the `Save Constitution Save Pakistan` schedule for the Labour Day rally and suggested that the party should have organised rallies across the country instead of just in Lahore, Islamabad, and Peshawar. He emphasized the need for the PTI to unite all stakeholders and stand up for labourers to help them obtain their rightful rights.

Highlighting the significance of Labour Day in commemorating the struggle of Chicago workers, the PTI labour wing leader stated that the condition of labourers in Pakistan over the past 75 years has been worse thanthatofthelabourers in 1886. He criticized Nawaz Sharif, Imran Khan, and Asif Ali Zardari, claiming that they were in power to pro-tect their business interests and never introduced any programs for the welfare of workers.

Mr Samee lamented that workers are aware that politicians only remember them during election campaigns or opposition days. He pointed out that during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, it became evident that no political party or government was preparedtoaddresstheissue of unemployment.

He stressed that labour rights have not been effectively implemented in Pakistan, with only two percent of institutions following the government`s minimum salary announcement, while 98 percent have failed to comply. Similarly, laws regarding sick leave, casual leave, annual leave, and gratuity are not being adequately followed.

He also criticised the implementation of the 18th Amendment in 2010, stating that it benefited NawazSharif, Asif Zardari, and Imran Khan, but the labour clause, such as the EOBI workers` welfare fund, was not implemented. He added that the finance ministry had not released Rs162 billion to the worl(ers` welfare fund, causing delays in development projects such as labour colonies and other welfare initiatives.

Mr Samee noted that only five percent of workers are registered with social security and even theydonothave accessto adequate medical facilities. He mentioned that a meager amount, less than 10 percent, of the labour welfare institutions` budget for salary benefits is actually spent on labour. He criticized labour leader unions, federations, and confederations, stating that they are currently inactive in Pakistan, and that the majority of pocket unions have become tools of capitalists and the bureaucracy. Staff Reporter