PPP leader Senator Farhatullah Babar sounded alarms on Thursday, decrying Pakistan’s shift towards a majoritarian state at the expense of welfare policies. Speaking at a panel discussion titled “Adherence to International Labour Standards in Sindh,” organized by the Sindh Human Rights Commission (SHRC), Babar urged for collective action to address societal challenges. During his address, Babar emphasized the need for comprehensive land reforms to prevent monopolization of resources and advocated against proposed taxes on solar panels to curb exploitation. He also cautioned against the control of technology and religious interpretation, asserting that they should not be used to suppress labor rights.
Highlighting longstanding issues of wealth concentration and regional disparities, Babar pointed out challenges in labor-capital relations, including the suppression of trade unions in media organizations. He underscored the need for political representation parity, citing discrepancies in seat allocation across regions.
The panel discussion, chaired by SHRC Chairman IqbalDetho, addressed various initiatives and challenges in implementing labor laws and international conventions in Sindh. Sindh Minister for LabourShahid Abdul Salam reaffirmed the government’s commitment to labor conventions, while Ms. AnisHaroon from the National Commission for Human Rights praised the European Union’s extension of the GSP-Plus. Representatives from organizations and departments, including NasirMansoor from the National Trade Union Federation and Ms. Zehra Khan, highlighted issues such as wage theft and challenges in implementing legislation for home-based workers. Syed Athar Shah from the Sindh Labour department stressed the importance of aligning national laws with ILO Conventions to ensure labor rights and economic equity.
