Muzaffarabad: Prime Minister Azad Kashmir Chaudhry Anwar ul Haq has said that all possible measures would be taken for the welfare of the workers in line with the teachings and principles of Islam, the constitution and as per the international labour standards. The Prime Minister Haq, in his message released on the eve of world labour day, said that hard work is considered as the greatest virtue in Islam.
Referring to a saying by the Prophet Muhammad (SAW), he said that Islam, while preaching us about the workers’ rights and privileges stresses on giving an employee his wages before the sweat is dry on him. He said that Islam attaches great importance to hard work. Remembering the struggle and sacrifices of the Chicago movement, the PM said that the development of the world was the result of the untiring efforts of the workers’ movement. He said that efforts of the ILO have led to prosperity, well being and safety of the workers. While remembering the sacrifices of labourers who laid down their lives in Chicago, the PM said that let us not forget to recall pioneers and unsung heroes of the world’s first labour movement that was launched by Kashmiri labourers from Srinagar in 1865.
In order to quell this movement, the PM said that Dogra forces killed at least 28 laborers and injured hundreds of them. It may be recalled here that Kashmir Silk Factory launched a massive protest movement against low wages given to them out of which corrupt officers took a substantial amount as bribe. He said that the Government was taking steps for the uplift and betterment of economically less privileged sections of society.
He said that working class would benefit from the reforms introduced by the government in health and education sectors. “The government will not allow anyone, whosoever, to exploit the workers”, he said. He said that legal and administrative reforms will be made to ensure better wages for workers along with favorable working environment, health facilities and protection of their rights. He said that strict implementation of labour laws would be ensured to resolve the problems being faced by workers at different levels.