Safeguarding workers’ rights top priority: Saeed

KARACHI: Saeed Ghani, Sindh’s Minister for Labour, Manpower and Social Security and Chairman of the Governing Body of the Sindh Workers Welfare Board, on Tuesday, declared that safeguarding workers’ rights remains the government’s foremost responsibility and priority.Chairing the 35th meeting of the board, he announced the withdrawal of several controversial projects initiated in the past, terming them contrary to the interests of both workers and the institution. He directed that transparent and thorough investigations be conducted into those schemes.In a major relief for the labour community, the meeting approved an increase in the workers’ death grant from Rs700,000 to Rs1 million, while the marriage grant was doubled from Rs200,000 to Rs400,000. To ensure transparency and effective oversight of all operations under the board, centralised committees have also been constituted.The Governing Body also approved the appointment of a Public Relations Officer for the Board.Senior labour leader and Governing Body member Habibuddin Junaidi expressed gratitude to PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and the Sindh Chief Minister for once again entrusting the Labour Ministry to Saeed Ghani.He expressed confidence that under Ghani’s leadership, welfare initiatives for workers—particularly within the Workers Welfare Board—would gain renewed momentum.Addressing the meeting, the Minister said that the very foundation and manifesto of the Pakistan Peoples Party are rooted in the welfare of labourers and working classes.He emphasised that clear directives from PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and the Sindh Chief Minister leave no room for compromise when it comes to improving workers’ welfare and living standards.He asserted that while the government would remain mindful of employers’ interest, acknowledging their role in providing livelihoods, it would not tolerate any step , past or present, that undermines workers’ rights.“There will be no compromise whatsoever on the protection and welfare of labourers,” he declared unequivocally.”The session was attended by Secretary Labour Sindh Sajid Jamal Abro, Secretary of the Board Saeed Saleh Jumani, Director General Shehla Kashif, workers’ representatives including Habibuddin Junaidi, Syed Rehmat Shah and Nasir Aziz Mansoor, employers’ representatives Humayun Nazeer, Muhammad Asif Memon and Masood Taqi, as well as officials from the Finance and Revenue Board.Copyright Business Recorder, 2026

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