KARACHI: Workers and rights activists staged a rally in the metropolis on Sunday and demanded abolition of the contractual employment system, implementation of labour laws and an immediate halt to privatisation of state institutions, corporate farming and construction of six canals over the Indus initiatives.

The rally, jointly organised by the National Trade Union Federation Pakistan (NTUF) and the Home-Based Women Workers Federation Pakistan (HBWWF), began from Regal Chowk and culminated at theKarachi Press Club, where labour leaders delivered speeches.

Participants of the rally, including women, carried red flags, banners and placards and shouted slogans in favour of their demands. Zehra Khan and Riaz Abbasi led the rally.

They demanded that the contract labour system be criminalised and abolished, workers must receive permanent employment, written appointment letters and be paid declared wages throughbank accounts.

They also asked authorities to ensure implementation of labour laws in workplaces and registration of all workers with social security and pension institutions.

The activists also voiced concern over the government`s privatisation of state institution, construction of additional canals and corporate farming initiatives and demanded a halt to these projects.

The participants alsodemanded that international fashion brands must adhere to local labour laws and European Parliament regulations.

Speaking on the occasion, Nasir Mansoor of the NTUF said that the Sindh and Punjab governments, in collaboration with the ILO, were conspiring to legalise the third-party contract system, which deprived workers of their basic rights and identity.

He accused the ILO of violating Convention 144, which advocates for tripartite consultation.

`We will take legal action against these anti-worker measures nationally and internationally, particularly in Switzerland. Contacts with other South Asian labour organisations had also begun for a united response,` he said.

Zehra Khan of the HBWWF criticised the Sindh labour department for failing to ensure payment of government-declared wages. `Due to the ministry`s incompetence, 90 per centof workers in Sindh remain deprived of minimum wages, she said.

She urged PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari to intervene immediately to prevent further damage to his party`s reput ation cause d by the labourdepartment`s inaction.

Qazi Khizar of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan highlighted the rising unemployment and poverty, blaming antiworker policies imposed under international financial institutions` directives. Despite govern-ment claims of economic progress, over 4.5 million people wereunemployed, and95mlived below the poverty line, he said.

Habib Junaidi, Khalig Junajo, Saeed Baloch, Dr Asghar Ali Dashti, Agib Hussain and others also spoke.