Thousands of Workers Rally in Quetta on Labour Day under PUWF Balochistan

Quetta: In one of the largest Labour Day events in Balochistan, the Pakistan United Workers Federation (PUWF) Balochistan organized a massive rally and public gathering in Quetta. The event was led by Federation President Ali Bakhsh Jamali and Pir Muhammad Kakar. The rally began at the Irrigation Office near Chaman Phatak and marched through various roads of the city, culminating at the Quetta Press Club.
Thousands of workers affiliated with different unions under the PUWF participated in the rally, carrying banners and placards highlighting demands and slogans related to workers’ rights and issues. The rally turned into a large public gathering where several prominent leaders and activists addressed the crowd.
Speakers included Ali Bakhsh Jamali, Pir Muhammad Kakar, National Party’s Advocate Changez Abdul Hai, Bibi Jan Kakar, senior labour rights lawyer Azam Zarkoon, Haji Saifullah Tareen, Salam Zehri, Arshad Abbas Dar, Haji Usman Ali, Shams Khalji, Kareem Farah, Hidayatullah Darvesh, Agha Sultan Shah, and Malik Saeed Lehri. Resolutions of the gathering were presented by Aziz Ahmed Sarangzai.
The speakers emphasized the urgent need for unity among workers to resolve their growing problems. They demanded immediate government action to safeguard workers’ rights, including:
Regularization of all contractual employees
An end to privatization of public institutions
Mandatory registration of all workers in private sectors with Social Security and EOBI
Improved health and safety measures in sectors like mining, brick kilns, and transport
Abolition of the contract system and provision of permanent jobs
Increase in minimum wage according to inflation and strict implementation of wage laws
Restoration of union rights and implementation of labour laws
Reinstatement of 63 dissolved unions and restoration of the old pension system
100% increase in salaries
Halting of privatization in sectors like hospitals, schools, electricity distribution companies, and metropolitan services
Inclusion of farmers, kiln workers, and agricultural labourers in the social security system
End to exploitation of institutions under the guise of Public-Private Partnerships
At the conclusion of the event, participants vowed to continue their struggle for workers’ rights and called on the government to take serious and immediate steps to address their demands.