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Pakistan is proud of its workforce, which with its devotion and commitment
has made this country a hub of economic activity and is the purveyor of
development and progress. While commemorating the sacrifices made by the
workers who laid down their lives for the just cause of the legitimate rights
and for the uplift of the dignity of labour in the world, we in Pakistan
observe this day with a strong commitment to build our beloved nation even
stronger with hard work and dedication for improvement and development in
every sphere of life.
The democratic elected government of major political forces have unanimously
decided soon after the verdict of the people to restore all labor unions and
to acknowledge the dignity of labor, which was denied during the past eight
years dictatorial rule.
We have also decided to take on board the workers of the State Owned Entities
(SOEs) before their privatisation as it was done during the previous tenures
of Pakistan Peoples Party under the leadership of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir
Bhutto. We reiterate that our government will follow the vision of our
martyred leader Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto to provide such an environment where
our laborers could work with more dedication and satisfaction and their
families could get all the basic amenities of life.
We are determined to make our Privatisation Program and policy pro worker and
pro people. We will ensure that no privatized unit is closed and that it
should flourish, expand and to create more job opportunities to increase
production and improve efficiency through new technologies.
Pakistan’s Privatisation Program also envisages that the privatized units
should run more efficiently and profitably by the professionals to generate
additional jobs in the private sector. Our goal is to ensure low tariff
through competition and to extend quality services, increase production and
above all to give market based salaries, better working environment and
facilities to our skilled and unskilled labor.
The privatisation process was initiated in Pakistan in 1991. As compared to
others, Pakistan has the distinction of offering most generous schemes for the
workers. The break through could only be possible with the signing of All
Pakistan Workers Action Committee (APSEWAC) Agreement in October 1991 between
Ministerial Committee and representatives of All Pakistan Workers Action
Committee (APSEWAC). The Agreement provided most generous scheme of VSS/ GHS
for the workers. Privatisation is in fact a pro-worker and pro-poor process.
The Government of Pakistan considers the workers as the strong stakeholders of
the public sector entities being offered for privatisation and it is the prime
objective of privatisation policy to safeguard the interests of the workers of
the Public Sector entities in particular.
Prior to privatisation of any such entity, Voluntary Separation Scheme (VSS)
or Golden Handshake Scheme (GHS) to the interested workers is offered to
ensure that they should not be left high and dry. With this money either they
can choose some new profession or spend it till they get any new job. The
buyers are bound to retain those workers for a period of one year who have not
opted for GHS/VSS after the privatisation of any entity. 10 % shares of each
privatized entity are also meant for the workers, which is another effort to
make them realize the feelings of ownership in these entities. As a result of
these post privatisation benefits to the workers. A sum of Rs.22.725 billion
have been distributed among 59646 employees of 104 privatised units under the
APSEWAC agreement.
The workers are the main force behind the economic development of our country.
The privatisation program in Pakistan is a joint effort of the Privatisation
Commission and our workforce, to get the private sector in for better wages,
facilities, latest equipment / technology for the speedy economic growth and
above all for the expansion in these units by making fresh investments. This
activity will not only expand our industry but it will also generate more jobs
for our unemployed youths, including skilled and unskilled workers. Due to
comprehensive welfare and social security net being provided to the workers,
the Privatisation Program in Pakistan is being conducted peacefully with the
utmost understanding and cooperation between the government and the workers.
We have learned a lot from our past experiences and we will make the
privatisation process more transparent through better Regulatory regimes
established in all sectors. The local or foreign investors need workers and
their needs can only be met from the local sources in view of the cost
effectiveness. So all the workers should rest assure that this government can
never think of working against the interests of the workers of Pakistan in
particular. Even in certain cases we appreciate the workers to become owners
of the entities to be privatized and there is no embargo on them for taking
part in the privatisation process.