IANS | 02 May, 2024
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that workers play a
central role in national progress and prosperity, highlighting that
every worker in the South Asian country is valued, respected, and
empowered to thrive.
"Workers work day and night in the fields, factories and
elsewhere. They not only work hard to feed their families but also are
the driving force behind Pakistan's progress," the Prime Minister said
on Wednesday in his message on International Workers' Day.
He
added that the country is committed to bolstering labour welfare and
harmonising domestic labour legislation with global standards, stressing
that the enhancement of occupational safety and health across various
sectors remains a top priority for the incumbent government, Xinhua news
agency reported.
"We will soon be convening the inaugural
National Tripartite Labour Conference with a special focus on safety and
health ... We will also continue endeavours to improve the working and
living conditions of our workers by further promoting their welfare
through better housing, education, healthcare and social security
benefits," Sharif said.
Highlighting that new job opportunities in
Pakistan and abroad now demand a skilled labour force, he noted that
the country has initiated vocational training and skills development
programs to empower workers and enable them to secure employment
opportunities.
Commenting on the historic inflation in the
country, the Prime Minister said that the current inflation has
disproportionately affected the financially weak labour class, and the
issue is being addressed through targeted subsidies and support
programmes.