Provincial Minister for Labour & Human Resource Raja Ashfaq Sarwar has said that ILO & UN Conventions along with constitution of Pakistan strictly prohibited and condemned all forms of bonded labour particularly in brick kilns industry. Punjab Assembly has approved Prohibition of Employment of Children at Brick Kilns Ordinance 2016 which will restrain brick kilns owners to trap labourers to get huge advances (paishgi) as a brick kiln worker can get only rupees fifty thousand as advance and employment contract will be mandatory in written deed. He said this while presiding over the 6th meeting of Provincial Committee to Eliminate Bounded Labour, at Committee Room Civil Secretariat, here today. MPA Muhammad Rafique, Secretary Labour Sohail Shehzad, Central President All Pakistan Bricks Kilns Owners Association Shoaib Khan Niazi, General Secretary Mehr Abdul Haq, General Secretary All Pakistan Workers Federation Khurshid Ahmed Khan, General Secretary Bonded Labour Liberation Front Syeda Ghulam Fatima, representatives of ILO, labour leaders, Commissioner PESSI Mansoor Qadir, DG Labour and concerned officers from attached departments attended the meeting. Labour leaders lauded the efforts of Punjab government for elimination of bonded labour from brick kilns industry and said that after 18th amendment, provinces have the power to formulate policies and legislation for the betterment of labour community particularly victims of exploitations by some bricks kilns owners. Minister Labour Raja Ashfaq Sarwar said that due to the legislation of Punjab government for eradication of child labour from brick kilns, a soft image of Pakistan has emerged in the comity of nations. He said that Labour Department Punjab will ensure implementation on new law regarding contract of employment and advances in brick kilns industry. He apprised that the department has taken initiatives for preparation CNICs of brick kilns labourers and their registration with the PESSI to provide them health and educational facilities. He directed the concerned officers to get proposals to solve the issue of minimum wages in the brick kilns industry and involve Law Department in this regard. The steps taken by Punjab government for the welfare of labour community are a role model for other provinces, he concluded.
