Exemplary measures to be adopted to protect workers' rights: Afridi

ISLAMABAD, Sep 17 (APP):Minister of State for Interior, Shehryar Khan Afridi Monday assured Pakistan Workers Federation (PWF) that the government would adopt exemplary measures to 

protect rights of workers. Addressing the concluding session of a two-day Strategy Workshop: Promoting Labour Standards Compliance in Textile 

and Garments Sectors, he said, "Our basic objective would be to introduce such policies to benefit workers and improve their living standards. 

He said, "Pakistan is our homeland and we need to introduce such reforms not only to improve our image across the globe but also ensure development and prosperity." 

He said national security is our priority and there would be no compromise on it. 

The minister while assuring his cooperation to PWF, said he would raise voice for their rights at any forums. 

Besides others, Central General Secretary, Pakistan Workers Federation (PWF), Chaudhry Muhammad Yaqoob, Central Organizer PWC, Zahoor Awan, Aslam Wafa and Abdul Qadir, 

Program Coordinator and Advisor, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Pakistan also shared their views on various aspects of working of 

trade unions in Pakistan and the overall situation of workers' rights in the country. 

The workers' leaders were of view that the textile and the garment sectors were the largest sectors of the economy with 

largest number of employees and workers but unfortunately, the exploited sector of the country as well. 

They added that almost 40% of all industrial workers in Pakistan are linked with textile industry whereas their contribution in overall exports is 62%. 

Therefore, the representatives said they are facing numerous challenges that do not auger well for the sector which is an important part of global.