The seminar highlighted on the recently announced textile policy wherein textile workers problems, solutions and their significance were deliberated upon.
Among the speakers were Teepu Mahabat Khan, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Textile Industry, Govt of Pakistan, Ms Aima Mahmood, Coordinator, Working Women Organization, Lahore, and Sohail Raza, General Secretary, Pakistan Textile Union, Karachi.
State of the textile workers who got no job even as only two percent workers get appointment letters while the rest work on daily wages, were the revealing facts at the seminar.
It was also learnt that textile sector gets exemption from taxes besides other perks and privileges at the cost of the laborers.
Raza stated workers in the garment and textile sector was getting an average of Rs.2,500 salaries per month. He added, only 19 percent employees were receiving Rs.4,500 per month salary.
He questioned the government's claims that the current raise in minimum wages would benefit the unskilled workers in the country.
Raza stressed that existing laws should be implemented in letter and spirit, since industry owners denied appointment letters to workers, depriving them of health benefits, social security and Employees Old age Benefits.
Raza said the government was announcing facilities for the textile owners while it was silent on the pathetic condition of workers, particularly women, in the sector.
Clothing industry being a vital sector involving 35 to 38 percent of the total labor force of the country it was unfortunate that this large proportion of the labor force has been always a net loser and sufferer.
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