Read this article in:
29 September, 1999Pakistan's government steps up pressure to ward off opposition.
PAKISTAN: Amid ever-growing threats of a mass movement by opposition parties in Pakistan, the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has passed an ordinance which declares as "terrorist acts" the creation of any "internal disturbance" - or civil commotion - through commencement or continuation of "illegal" strikes, go-slows, or lockouts.
The Anti-Terrorist (Second Amendment) Ordinance, which was recently promulgated by Pakistan's president, warned that such acts would be tried in a special anti-terrorist court.
Late in 1998, another decree was passed by the government, suspending trade union rights for the 130,000 employees of the Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), even though the ordinance contravened Pakistan's Constitution and ILO Conventions Nos. 87 and 98 - both of which have been ratified by Pakistan. Thus, the 130,000 employees of the state-owned utility, now being run by the country's armed forces, are being denied their right to organise and to bargain collectively. The WAPDA trade union is a major affiliate of the All Pakistan Federation of Trade Unions, an IMF member.
These various measures will obviously have a serious impact on the Pakistani trade union movement.
The Anti-Terrorist (Second Amendment) Ordinance, which was recently promulgated by Pakistan's president, warned that such acts would be tried in a special anti-terrorist court.
Late in 1998, another decree was passed by the government, suspending trade union rights for the 130,000 employees of the Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), even though the ordinance contravened Pakistan's Constitution and ILO Conventions Nos. 87 and 98 - both of which have been ratified by Pakistan. Thus, the 130,000 employees of the state-owned utility, now being run by the country's armed forces, are being denied their right to organise and to bargain collectively. The WAPDA trade union is a major affiliate of the All Pakistan Federation of Trade Unions, an IMF member.
These various measures will obviously have a serious impact on the Pakistani trade union movement.