KARACHI – Chairman Workers Employers Bilateral Council of Pakistan (WEBCOP), Zaki Ahmed Khan, has said that positive bilateral dialogue between workers and employers is important to harmonise industrial relations for growth of industry. Addressing a consultative meeting on conventions 87 and 98, he said bilateralism and better working relationship between workers and employers is the only solution to the challenges posed to the industry and particularly to industrial workers in the wake COVID pandemic.
President Pakistan workers Federation, Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin addressing on the occasion said it is a fact that the we lack compliance culture and workers are not getting the rights guaranteed under the labour laws and it is also reality that the industry is passing through difficult time and struggling to survive due to the severe impacts of COVID pandemic. We understand that the growth of local industry in Pakistan is important for employment generation and sustainable growth, and workers are ready to work with employers to solve the issues of industry.
Ahsan Ullah khan ,Founding chairman WEBCOP, in his opening remarks said the idea of WEBCOP was presented by enlightened and forward looking employers and labour leaders from national representative organisations of workers and employers in 90s and after years of dialogue transformed into reality as unique bilateral forum in the world in July 2000 when all national labour federations and employers signed an MOU and committed themselves to make concerted efforts to meet the challenges posed by globalization, rapid technological advancement and WTO regime implications posed to national economy in general and industry in particular.
Zahoor Awan, Workers’ representative in ILO governing body said the purpose of establishing WEBCOP was to promote positive bilateral dialogue to better understand each other’s viewpoint on different labour issues and join hands for better industrial relations at the enterprise level. He added the WEBCOP has been very successful in creating an environment of trust and harmony and was able to develop consensus recommendations and policies on labour legislations.
Chaudhry Muhammad Naseem, President Pakistan Workers’ Federation, said the success of the WEBCOP lies in the unity and togetherness between worker and employers. and together we would be in a better position to resolve the issues of the industry and the workers in the largest interest of Pakistan.
Syed Nazar Ali, Secretary General WEBCOP Central, announced the revamping and newly formed central and provincial chapters of WEBCOP.
Tahir Javed Malik, Asif Zuberi, Dr. Yousuf Sarwar., Chaudhry Muhammad Yaqoob and Asad Memon chairmen and Secretary General of provincial chapters of WEBCOP also addressed on the occasion.
The workers and employers’ representatives resolved that they will work together to support industrialization in the country and ensure rights of workers for industrialized and prosperous Pakistan.