LAHORE: All Pakistan Workers Confederation rejectedRs1,000increasein the minimum wages (from Rs14,000 to Rs15,000) announced by the minister concerned at a Labour Day event at Aiwan-i-Iqbal here on Monday, and demanded minimum Rs30,000 per month for eight-hour a day work.

At its main rally, the PWC also condemned the banning of May Day rallies by the Punjab government for `security reasons`.

On the occasion, All Pakistan Workers Confederation Secretary General Khurshid Ahmad said the workers demanded respectable wages and better health and safety measures at the workplace.

`We have not forgotten the martyrs of Chicago who laid down their lives for an 8-hour a day work,` he said and added that labourers would remember them despite the ban imposed on workers`rallies.

Awami Workers Party spokesperson Farooq Tariq condemned the ban across Punjab and said: `Its an irony that the PML-N, PTI and PPP are free to hold public meetings, but workers have been asked to desist (from holding such events).

Mr Tariq demanded minimum wages of Rs30,000 per month for workers and lifting the ban on trade unions in several public sector institutions, including hospitals and educational institutions.

All Pakistan Trade Union Federation Secretary General Rubina Jamil regretted the government had failed to implement labour laws. She rejected the Rs1,000 raise in the minimum wages and vowed to launch a `mass movement` for better wages.

Those who spoke on the occasion included Yousaf Baloch, Niaz Khan, Mahmood Butt, Baba Najmi, Rana Mohammed Saleem, Mohammed Akber, Sakhalin Khan, Saeed Gujjar, Riffet Maqsood and Shazia Butt.

A large number of workers from different industries attended the main rally. They chanted slogans against the government and the labour department for `failing to protect the workers`rights`.

Earlier, Pakistan Bhatta Mazdoor Union, Labour Education Foundation, Progressive Labour Federations and Ittehad Carpet Workers Union took out a rally from Garhi Shahu that joined the main rally at Shimla Pehari.

-Staff Reporter