Gilgit (C.R. Akbar Shah): Red Workers Front, Gigilt-Baltistan has announced to register a case in the Supreme Appellate Court seeking implementation of labor rights in Gilgit-Baltistan.
Talking to Ibext Times, Red Workers Front leader, Ahsan Ali Advocate said the apex court will be moved to take action on violations of labor rights in GB. He said in the face of the current wave of inflation, a 100% increment in salary should be given to the working class.
It has become very difficult for middle-class people to survive due to skyrocketing price hikes of daily needs commodities. The concerned departments also seem least interested in giving any benefit to the workers.
Ahsan demanded an increase in salaries proportional to the inflation rate. Moreover, a one-month’s salary should be equal to the value of one tola gold. However, the government is just increasing the prices of all basic and secondary items without an increase in the salary.
According to Ahsan advocate, the same court had given a historic verdict during the tenure of the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) asking for the government to implement labor laws in letter and spirit. The former judge, Nawaz Abbasi had ordered the then federal government to extend the application of labor laws in GB also. He had specifically noted in the verdict if the federal government did not respond, the labor laws given in the constitution would be supposed to be implemented.
He said labor laws exist in the constitution. However, there is little implementation esp. in the private sector institutions which has led to the worst sort of exploitation of poor workers.
