Punjab Minister for Labour & Human Resource Department, Ansar Majeed has said that the major reason to celebrate International Migrants Day is to highlight and raise awareness about the rights of migrants. It is the utmost responsibility of the state to protect the rights of overseas Pakistanis and for that labourers should be aware of their rights and legal protection which the land law provides to them.
He was addressing a conference organized in connection with the International Migrants Day to be celebrated on December 18, 2021. The conference titled “Protecting Workers’ Rights” was organized by the Migrant Resource Centre (MRC) Pakistan, in collaboration with the Labour & Human Resource Department, Government of Punjab.
The issues faced by workers, exploitation of their rights and lack of awareness on laws, rights and responsibilities, came under discussion during the conference.
Addressing the conference, Ansar Majeed Khan said that safeguarding and extending fundamental principles and rights at work is also essential to the success of both immediate and longer-term responses towards promoting and protecting workers rights, he maintained. Punjab will be the first province to launch multifaceted labour card clubbing 14 different features and facilities including purchase of subsidized merchandise and concession in transport and railway fare. Labour card will serve as debit and ATM card which could also be used for commercial purposes; he said and added that it would ensure at least Rs. 15000 additional financial benefits to the secured workers currently getting minimum wage of Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 25,000.
Secretary L&HRD Punjab, Mr. Suhail Shahzad stated that COVID-19 crisis is one of the devastating consequences for the millions of workers already in vulnerable situations as their fundamental rights at work are under threat, pushing them and their families towards greater insecurity. Ms. Nadia Kashif, Coordinator, Migrant Resource Centre Lahore said that the MRC is following its mandate of reaching out to intending, potential and outgoing migrants.
They said, “We provide information on safe, legal and informed migration, and are also raising awareness on their rights as migrant workers in their origin and destination countries. Migrants are vulnerable to abuse during all stages of the migration process, using awareness-raising as a systematic approach will incorporate positive values and reduce irregular migration.”
This conference brought together over 50 participants from academia, government policy makers, national and international experts in the field of labour migration to explore the strategies adopted by the Government of Pakistan in order to address the challenges faced by workers and Pakistani migrants, with particular reference to protecting their right in destination countries.
