KNOWLEDGE WORKERS CONTINUE TO PLAY A KEY ROLE IN ACHIEVING SUSTAINABLE GROWTH FOR KNOWLEDGE SOCIETIES.

ISLAMABAD, 1 May- Celebrating Labour Day across the world, leading organizations working on the rights of workers in Pakistan today voiced a common message envisaging educating workers on core labour rights, imparting better understanding of the factors impacting their life /lives. A special acknowledgement for the workers who are working on developing and disseminating knowledge among communities were given credit for playing an essential role in developing economic growth in Pakistan and creating more awareness among the public on their basic human rights.

The event themes also included child labour, core labour rights, and gender-based discrimination against women, bonded labour, workers in the informal sector, home-based workers and peace & solidarity among others.

The discussion of the day mainly focused on today’s societies emerging from an agricultural society to a knowledge-based one, giving the new knowledge workers (who are the ones creating the innovation and new knowledge for growth and implementation) a more permanent and important role in the future development of Pakistan, including the media in Pakistan.

Amir Jahangir, Chief Executive Officer of SAMAA TV, one of Pakistan’s leading Urdu news channels said that “since 1989, Labour Day themes have included a wide range of issues such as health and the environment, youth and the community, respect for the elderly, road safety, and the planting of trees. Unfortunately, like the all important All Hallows Eve, few people recall what this important day is all about. While most of us enjoy the statutory holiday and miss work and school, few are even aware of (much less remember) the important rituals traditionally associated with this sacred event”.

Amir Jahangir further added that “as we see the global societies changing its trend set in focusing on using knowledgeable content (such as science, information technology etc.), the knowledge managers (the people who use the tangible knowledge for implementing business or industrial development) will be very much dependent on their knowledge workers. It is therefore essential that these knowledge workers are given their full credit and support both through investing in their capacity and expanding the required human resources. This in particular also includes the development of the media industry in Pakistan, which is one of the key players in disseminating information related to the socio-economic challenges in Pakistan and creating more awareness on issues related to health, education, national security and the global environment”.

According to Mr. Jahangir, Labour Day imparts the obligations aimed at achieving equality in the form of securing the well-being of the people, irrespective of sex, caste, creed or race, by raising their standard of living. It aims at preventing the concentration of wealth and means of production and distribution in the hands of a few to the detriment of general interest and by ensuring equitable adjustment of rights between employers and employees.

Pakistan’s labour laws trace their origination to legislation inherited from British colonial rule. The laws have evolved through a continuous process of trial to meet the socio-economic conditions, state of industrial development, population and labour force explosion, growth of trade unions, level of literacy, Government’s commitment to development and social welfare. To meet the above named objectives, the government of Pakistan introduced a number of labour policies, since its independence to mirror the shifts in governance from martial law to democratic governance.

The Constitution of Pakistan contains a range of provisions with regards to labour rights which focus on the fundamental rights and principles of policy. Article 11 of the Constitution prohibits all forms of slavery, forced labour and child labour; Article 17 provides for a fundamental right to exercise the freedom of association and the right to form unions; Article 18 proscribes the right of its citizens to enter upon any lawful profession or occupation and to conduct any lawful trade or business; Article 25 lays down the right to equality before the law and prohibition of discrimination on the grounds of sex alone; Article 37(e) makes provision for securing just and humane conditions of work, ensuring that children and women are not employed in vocations unsuited to their age or sex, and for maternity benefits for women in employment.

Labour Day is an annual holiday celebrated all over the world that resulted from the labour union movement, to celebrate the economic and social achievements of workers. The majority of countries celebrate Labour Day on May 1, and it is popularly known as May Day and International Workers' Day. The celebration of Labour Day has its origins in the Eight-hour-day movement, which advocated eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for rest.