Faisalabad; May 16, 2012. (Shazia George) Association of Women for Awareness and Motivation (AWAM) organized a public forum on the theme “Working Women: Achievements, Problems and Resolves”, and “Resolves to the Issues of Working Class” in Lahore and Faisalabad on 29th April and 1st May respectively to mark international labour day. The government must ensure fair wage against fair work, end of forced labour, social and legal protection for all workers in formal & informal sectors, and protection of women workers against harassment and discrimination at workplaces, this was demanded by the speakers of the events. Speaking on the occasion, the director of the AWAM, Nazia Sardar said, “Pakistan is amongst those developing countries where a large number of women is engaged in informal sector as home-based workers, domestic workers and peasant workers, due to poverty and to supplement family income, but they remain invisible and neglected, and are exploited for working in an unrecognized, unregulated, unorganized and undervalued form of employment, because this kind of labour force is neither included as a ‘worker’ in labour codes nor recorded in labour statistics.” The Executive Secretary of the AWAM, Naseem Anthony said, “A large number of workers have been deprived of their livelihood, as power outage has caused closure of numerous industrial units.” “Indifference on part of the government functionaries is allowing the influential employers to force the workers to work in pathetic conditions, therefore, the government of Pakistan must guarantee workers’ rights by ensuring legal recognition, social security and old age benefits for all workers engaged in formal and informal sectors,” he added. The general secretary of the Workers Party Pakistan, Arif Ayaz said, “The government seems to be helpless towards overcoming years-long crisis of poverty, inflation, unemployment, extremism, lawlessness and load shedding of energy & gas in Pakistan despite making tall promises, claims and commitments before coming into power in 2008, which is a clear indication that workers’ rights are at the bottom tier of the priority list of the government which is leading to mass dissention, anger and rage among the working class.” “The government must ensure end of target killings and disappearances in all parts of the country particularly Karachi and Balochistan,” he demanded. The representative of Workers Party Pakistan, Javed Akhtar said, “The leftists can only cause societal change, therefore, the economic exploitation of working class shall continue unless the pro-public leadership is ensured in order to control inflation.” “An undemocratic force has been creating several major political parties in Pakistan to strengthen and secure its influence and interest on long-term basis, therefore citizens has to reject so-called pro-public political parties in the coming elections, and support representative party of the working and poor class for social justice and equality in Pakistan,” he added. An educator, Asim Sajjad said, “It is imperative to involve youth and females in the decision making process for bringing about positive change in the society. The working conditions of the workers engaged in all sectors are alike, therefore, they are to forge unity for organized struggle towards their collective rights rather than putting isolated initiatives.” Afsheen Patras said, “The preference to the traditional male leadership in our society is the main hurdle in the economic empowerment and development of working women, this practice inhibit women workers to get their identity, capabilities and products acknowledged nationally as well as internationally.” “The economic empowerment of working women is possible unless they are provided with opportunities for Training and progress beyond gender discrimination,” she added. An educator, Dr. Mussadaq Hussain said, “The workers must be familiar with the motives and impact of revolutionary movements initiated across the globe, and should learn from those struggles for replicating the strategy adopted towards successful movement for protection of rights of working class in Pakistan.” A railway workers’ leader, Ashiq Chaudhry said, “The collective voice and struggle of all segments of the society is much needed to avoid worst exploitation of working class by stopping privatization of state run institutions and lifting ban on labour inspections.” A power loom workers’ leader, Yasin Inqlabi said, “The workers make bricks, garments, shopping malls, hospitals, offices, institutes and roads so that the citizens can lead their lives with pleasure and comfort, it is pity that the creators of useful necessities are deprived of their due rights even decent wage.” James Masih said, “The industrialists, landlords and influential figures have always promoted discrimination and negative behaviours towards working class, therefore the poor labourers are deprived of their rights despite having laws protecting workers’ rights.” It is imperative for the government to create and enforce pro-workers laws in order to stop exploitation of working class,” he added.