KARACHI — The National Trade Union Federation Pakistan (NTUF) and the Home-Based Women Workers Federation Pakistan (HBWWF) jointly organized a rally in Karachi, drawing a large number of workers from textile, garment, and other industries.

The demonstration marched from Regal Chowk to the Karachi Press Club, serving as a platform to voice grievances against a range of pressing issues, including wage nonpayment, the contract labor system, violations by international fashion brands, privatization of institutions, and anti-labor and anti-environment policies.

The rally was a vibrant display of worker solidarity, with participants carrying red flags, banners, and placards to highlight their demands and call for change.

NTUF General Secretary, Nasir Mansoor, addressed the crowd, sharply criticizing the Sindh and Punjab governments for what he described as a collaboration with the International Labor Organization (ILO) to legalize the exploitative third-party contract system.

Mansoor said the ILO violated Convention 144, which mandates tripartite consultation, emphasizing that the contract labor system strips workers of their fundamental rights and identity. He announced that legal action would be pursued against these anti-worker measures both nationally and internationally, with a particular focus on Switzerland. Mansoor also noted that NTUF has initiated contact with other South Asian labor organizations to coordinate a unified response to these challenges.

People’s Labor Bureau Sindh, Habibuddin Junaidi, spoke about the historical struggles and significant sacrifices made by Pakistan’s working class to secure their constitutional and legal rights, as well as to uphold democracy in the nation. He expressed confidence that this tradition of resistance would continue. Junaidi strongly condemned the contract system and third-party employment as some of the most detrimental anti-labor practices and urged the government to declare them illegal.

HBWWF General Secretary, Zehra Khan, condemned the Sindh labor ministry for its failure to ensure the payment of government-declared wages. She pointed out that due to the ministry’s incompetence, a staggering 90% of workers in Sindh remain deprived of minimum wages. Khan lamented that instead of enforcing wage payments, the ministry has remained inactive, leaving workers vulnerable to forced termination.

She called on PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to intervene immediately to prevent further damage to the party’s reputation caused by the ministry’s inaction and emphasized that the contract system perpetuates a cycle of exploitation and must be abolished to restore workers’ dignity.

Human Rights Commission of Pakistan Sindh Vice-Chairperson, Khizar Qazi, highlighted the concerning rise in unemployment and poverty, attributing them to anti-worker policies imposed under directives from international financial institutions. Despite government claims of economic progress, Qazi noted that a significant portion of the population remains below the poverty line.

Political Activist Khaliq Junejo addressed the plight of the youth, many of whom seek legal and illegal means to leave the country due to bleak economic prospects. Junajo revealed the tragic statistic that hundreds of youths die annually in attempts to migrate illegally, often losing their lives in boat accidents while searching for employment abroad.

Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum’s Saeed Baloch shared the alarming figures of over 2.7 million workers suffering workplace accidents annually and more than 200 miners dying every year due to unsafe conditions. He condemned the government for prioritizing elite privileges over the welfare of lower-tier public employees, eliminating pensions, and privatizing public institutions to benefit select groups.

Academic Dr. Asghar Ali Dashti emphasized the critical importance of education and awareness in empowering workers. He said that an informed and educated workforce serves as the foundation of any successful labor movement, believing that knowledge equips workers with the necessary tools to combat exploitation and assert their rightful position in society.

Alternate youth group’s Aqib Hussain condemned international fashion brands for exploiting workers in garment factories, where laborers are treated as wage slaves. He noted that these brands openly violate local and international labor laws.

The rally concluded with the following demands, representing a clear and unified call for change:

• Criminalize and abolish the contract labor system
• Ensure permanent employment and written appointment letters for workers
• Ensure payment of declared wages through bank accounts
• Enforce labor laws in workplaces
• Register all workers with social security and pension institutions
• Recognize the right to unionization
• Halt the privatization of institutions
• End terminations in public and private institutions
• Create harassment-free workplaces with anti-harassment committees
• Cancel anti-environmental water projects
• Stop land grabbing disguised as corporate farming
• Ensure international fashion brands adhere to local labor laws and European Parliament regulations.