Karachi: Saeed Ghani, Sindh’s Minister for Labour, Manpower and Social Security and Chairman of the Governing Body of the Sindh Workers Welfare Board, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to safeguarding workers’ rights, declaring it a top priority.
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Chairing the 35th meeting of the Board on Tuesday, Mr. Ghani announced the withdrawal of several controversial schemes from the past, terming them contrary to the interests of both workers and the institution. He directed transparent and thorough investigations into those projects.
In a major relief for the labour community, the Board approved a significant increase in workers’ death grants from Rs700,000 to Rs1 million and doubled the marriage grant from Rs200,000 to Rs400,000. Centralised committees were also formed to ensure effective oversight and transparency of all Board operations.
The meeting was attended by Secretary Labour Sindh Sajid Jamal Abro, Secretary of the Board Saeed Saleh Jamani, Director General Shehla Kashif, workers’ representatives including Habibuddin Junaidi, Syed Rehmat Shah and Nasir Aziz Mansoor, employers’ representatives Humayun Nazeer, Muhammad Asif Memon and Masood Taqi, as well as officials from the Finance and Revenue Board.
At the outset, Mr. Ghani welcomed newly inducted members of the Governing Body. The session reviewed previous minutes in detail and revoked several earlier decisions deemed detrimental to workers’ interests, with orders for impartial inquiries. The Board also approved the appointment of a Public Relations Officer.
Senior labour leader Habibuddin Junaidi praised Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and the Sindh Chief Minister for their continued trust in Mr. Ghani, expressing confidence that welfare initiatives would gain renewed momentum under his leadership.
Addressing the session, Mr. Ghani emphasized that the Pakistan Peoples Party’s manifesto is rooted in the welfare of labourers. He stressed that directives from Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and the Sindh Chief Minister leave no room for compromise on improving workers’ welfare and living standards.
He asserted that while the government would remain mindful of employers’ role in providing livelihoods, no measure, past or present, undermining workers’ rights would be tolerated. “There will be no compromise whatsoever on the protection and welfare of labourers,” he declared.
