KARACHI: Various civil soc­iety organisations (CSOs), including those wor­king for rights of labour, particularly women wor­kers, have urged all political parties contes­ting elections to ensure equal wages for women if they form the next govern­ment.

In a statement issued here on Thursday, they sug­ges­ted some of the dem­ands that the political parties could include in their manifestoes and when they form the government they could try to implement these so that workers in gene­ral and women emplo­yees in particular, could benefit.

Some of their demands are: ensuring implemen­tation of anti-sexual harass­ment laws at all levels with­in formal and informal sectors; provision of women facilitation desks with women officers in labour-related departments like Employees Old-age Benefit Institution (EOBI), Workers Welfare Fund, Workers Wel­fare Board, Social Secu­rity, Minimum Wage Board and other similar bodies.

Establishment of industrial contingency fund at district level in which all employers contribute and all workers of a district are registered was also demanded.

The civil society organisa­tions which have issued these demands included Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Aurat Founda­tion, Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Rese­arch, National Trade Union Federation, Women Development Foundation, Hunar Ghar, Pakistan Fisher­folk Forum, Gender Interactive Alliance, Home Net Pakistan, etc, adds the statement.