Faisalabad: December 25, 2014. (PCP) The government must harmonize domestic labor legislation with international laws in consultation with all relevant stake-holders. The lady health workers and polio workers must be protected because they put their lives at risk to save our future generation from polio. The government must take effective measures to monitor the brick kilns and factories especially, and enforce existing labour laws in letter and spirit to stop exploitation of workers’ rights. The government must recognize domestic and home-based workers as part of labor foce in labor codes, and extend social and legal protection coverage to them. These demands were made by the trainers during a training workshop entitled “Enhancing Awareness on Women Rights and Labour Laws” held at Faisalabad on December 12-14, 2014. The event was hosted by the Association of Women for Awareness and Motivation (AWAM), implementing project of “Enhancing Women Workers’ Awareness on their Rights & Labor Laws” under the Gender Equity Program (GEP) of Aurat Foundation by the support of the American People through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The event was joined by women workers from formal and informal sectors including; factory workers, lady health workers, home-based workers and domestic workers. Speaking on the occasion, the chairperson of the AWAM, Amna Ehsan said, “The training will prove effective only if women workers put their learning into practice, and join hands to peacefully resolve their problems occurring at workplaces.” The project manger of the AWAM, Shazia George said, “Human rights are those safeguards and freedoms without discrimination to which people are entitled simply by virtue of being human, without which we cannot live as human beings. Human rights are basic standards for a dignified life, which allows individuals and communities to develop fully.” “The federal and provincial governments must enforce existing pro-women laws and approve pending pro-women legislation such as Domestic Violence Bill, Comprehensive Acid Violence Bill, Early and Forced Marriages Bill, Reproductive Health Rights Bill, Home-Based Women Workers Social Protection Bill,” she demanded. The executive director of the AWAM, Nazia Sardar said, “The government is responsible to provide women workers with opportunities and facilities for education, employment and health care, whereas it is imperative for women workers to increase their knowledge about labor rights and laws, and collectively fight for protection of their due rights.” “The government must protect rights of home-based workers and domestic workers through ratification and implementation of ILO conventions No. 177 and No. 189 respectively, and bringing them under regulation to extend social and legal protection coverage to workers engaged in informal sector, and should simplify the process for the registration of trade unions in the informal sector,” she demanded. A trade unionist, Aslam Wafa said, “Most employers have not registered their workers with the Employees Old-age Benefits Institution (EOBI), therefore they are deprived of receiving pension and unemployment benefits. Even employers have not registered their workers with the Employees Social Security Institutions (ESSI), which deprive them of all kinds of financial support from the Workers Welfare Fund, i.e. free medical treatment, death grants, marriage grants, education grants etc. Therefore, the government must ensure the issuance of Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC), social security cards and EOBI cards for all brick kiln and factory workers by registering them with government departments.” A trade unionist, Arif Ayaz said, “It is pity that the welfare of the workers has never been the priority of the successive governments either civilian or military regime. The inflation is increasing with fast pace, but wages of workers and availability of jobs are decreasing due to unfriendly labour polices of the government. Therefore, the government must avoid anti-labour polices, and must adopt and strictly implement pro-labour policies for the prosperity of nation.” “The sufferings of the women workers will not come to an end unless they get united, organize themselves under a trade union or association, improve their knowledge and skills, and take collective stand against repression and exploitation,” he added. A women rights activist, Zarfishan Nasir said, “Violence against women is more problematic in Pakistan, as the existing monitoring system and loopholes; therefore it doesn’t address the issue in an effective manner. Alongside legislation to deal with various forms of violence against women, the government must take substantive measures to devise an efficient monitoring system for strict implementation of pro-women laws, and must train forces responsible for the implementation of laws protecting vulnerable groups.” A labor rights activist, Shahzad Rafiq said, “Every person should have awareness about human rights and must raise voice against human rights violations to establish a society where all human beings enjoy equal rights, freedoms and opportunities irrespective of any discrimination.” A human rights activist, Faisal Rasheed said, “Advocacy seeks to ensure that marginalized groups are able to express their concerns, and safeguard their rights. Advocacy is an effective tool to influence attitude and perception of stakeholders, and bring about positive reforms in the legal framework protecting labor rights. Therefore, it is imperative for women workers to improve their knowledge and skills to undertake advocacy initiatives for the protection of workers’ rights.”