Every Worker Deserves Fair Wages, Safe Environment: Shahid

Skardu – The Directorate of Labour, Commerce, and Industries, Baltistan Division organized an awareness session on labour policy, laws, and regulations aimed at protecting workers’ rights in Gilgit-Baltistan. The session focused on informing workers about their legal rights and promoting effective coordination between responsible institutions.

Director General Labour, Commerce, and Industries, Shahid Ali, highlighted the labour laws implemented in Gilgit-Baltistan and emphasized that every worker has the right to fair and timely wages, a safe and healthy work environment, and equal treatment. He outlined several measures introduced by the provincial government, including the Minimum Wage Act, Compensation Act, EOBI enforcement, and the Gilgit-Baltistan Prohibition of Employment of Children Act 2019. He stressed that employers must provide written office orders or contracts to workers and condemned child labour as a serious social crime that hinders societal progress.

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Deputy Commissioner Skardu, Hamza Murad, attended the session as chief guest and assured full support from the district administration for effective enforcement of labour laws and resolution of workers’ issues. He emphasized that all institutions must ensure minimum wages, protection, and legal facilities for workers.

Participants, including stakeholders, former provincial minister Iqbal Hasan, former GB Council member Basharat Zaheer, religious leader Allama Sheikh Zahid Hussain Zahidi, department heads, labour union officials, and media representatives, stressed that social and economic development is linked to the well-being of the working class. They urged for effective implementation of labour laws, protection of children’s rights, education, training, safe working conditions, and provision of pensions, social security, and professional support to workers.