Z.A Bhutto framed labour laws, gave concept of minimum wage

Chief Minister (CM) Sindh, Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that after Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah it was Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto who framed labour laws, initiated their welfare schemes for workers and gave the concept of minimum wage.

He said this while addressing a ceremony to hand over 1024 flats and 200-beded hospital from federal government to Sindh Workers Welfare Board here at the CM House on Thursday. The ceremony was attended by leader of opposition in the National assembly Syed Khursheed Shah, provincial labour minister Syed Nasir Shah, Provincial IT Minister Dr Sikandar Shoro, MPA Saeed Ghani, Secretary Labour Rasheed Solangi and others.

Murad Shah said that Quaid-e-Azam founded the country and Quaid-e-Awam made it modern welfare state for workers by taking drastic steps such as enacting labour laws, fixing working hour and minimum wage, establishing residential schemes for them and providing them health and education facilities. “The work left incomplete by Shaheed Bhutto was completed by Shaeed Benazir Bhutto,” he said.

The Chief Minister said that on the directives of President [former] Asif Zardari his federal labour minister Syed Khursheed Shah had constructed 1024 apartments for workers in Sindh. After 18th amendment, the federal government is handing over these flats and hospitals to Sindh government’s workers welfare board. “It was out hectic efforts that finally we are taking over the flats and hospital,’’ he said.

He said that ‘roti-kapra aur makan’ is the mainstay of manifesto of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). “The Sindh government is going to hand over these flats to the workers through balloting to fulfil its manifesto,” he said.

The Chief Minister said that the Worker Welfare Board, Sindh was part of federal government’s ministry of labour has been devolved to provincial government. “We have enacted Workers Welafree Fund Law and notified its board. The board has held its eight meeting so far.
Murad Ali Shah said that the provincial government has taken some important measures for the welfare of workers. They include allocation of Rs300 million for dowry grant out of which Rs80 million have been disbursed among the workers of Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur and Larkana divisions. The remaining amount of Rs220 million would be disbursed during the next few months. He added that a death grant of Rs200 have also been disbursed among the heirs of the workers died during the current financial year. Talking about scholarships, 2016-017, the chief minister said that Rs200 million have been allocated. The board has invited applications from the students and after their scrutiny the scholarships would be awarded to the deserving students.