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27 October, 1999With a military government running the country, Pakistan's trade unions are calling on the authorities to proceed towards democracy and restore full trade union rights.
PAKISTAN: Following the military coup d'état which took place on October 12, resulting in removal from office of Pakistan's prime minister, the IMF-affiliated All Pakistan Federation of Trade Unions (APFTU) participated in a meeting on October 22 of the Pakistan Workers' Confederation to discuss the dramatic situation in the country. The participants pledged to continue their efforts towards the establishment of a transparent, social democratic system of government and called on the ruling military to complete as soon and as fairly as possible the process of accountability of the former government.
The meeting urged the present government to restore workers' full trade union rights as enshrined in the Constitution of Pakistan and to implement ILO Conventions ratified by the government.
Particular mention was made of the state-owned utility, the Water and Power Development Authority, whose 130,000 employees have been deprived of their legitimate trade union rights since the promulgation of a 1998 government decree. The previous government also passed an anti-terrorist ordinance this year which declares acts such as strikes, go-slows and lockouts as terrorist and to be tried by the courts as such.
The meeting urged the present government to restore workers' full trade union rights as enshrined in the Constitution of Pakistan and to implement ILO Conventions ratified by the government.
Particular mention was made of the state-owned utility, the Water and Power Development Authority, whose 130,000 employees have been deprived of their legitimate trade union rights since the promulgation of a 1998 government decree. The previous government also passed an anti-terrorist ordinance this year which declares acts such as strikes, go-slows and lockouts as terrorist and to be tried by the courts as such.