According to official sources, an important meeting was held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz for the welfare of the workers.

During the meeting, she ordered to pay death and marriage grant dues worth Rs6 billion to labourers.

The meeting was told that the death and marriage allowances were not paid to 29,000 workers during the previous regime.

A detailed briefing was also given in the performance review meeting of the Labour Department.

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Workers’ scholarship programme, the establishment of labour colonies, and health facility projects for workers were reviewed.

Maryam Nawaz ordered reforms in the Labour Department, implementation of occupational safety and health, and minimum wage laws.

On the direction of Maryam Nawaz, approval was given to build two hostels for women workers in Garment City. Free accommodation will be provided to 704 women workers in Sheikhupura.

On the occasion, Maryam Nawaz said that the Punjab government has set a minimum wage of Rs37,000 in the current budget. “It is our responsibility to protect the rights of every laborer in Punjab,” she stated.

She also said that the stakeholders should be immediately taken into confidence and the minimum wage should be implemented.

“It is painful that every worker does not get the full wage. It is unfortunate that the labour laws are not implemented on domestic workers,” she expressed her displeasure.

She said that safety protocols and SOPs should be implemented at the workplace. “Ensure the use of safety gear for sanitary staff while cleaning drains and manholes,” she ordered.