ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in their separate messages on International Labour Day, observed on May 1, have paid rich tribute the labourers for their hard work and stressed upon protection of their rights.

The President in a statement said this year we are celebrating Labour Day with the resolve to reaffirm our commitment to the dignity of labour and pay tribute to the valiant and heroic struggle of the workers for their fundamental rights.

He said the labour force is backbone of our economy and it is highly essential to take steps for protection of their rights by strictly enforcing the labour laws to discourage unfair labour practices.

The Prime Minister in his message expressed the commitment to improve the working and living conditions of workers and to supplement their welfare by providing them better housing, education, and health facilities.

He said keeping in view the high inflation rates and other economic challenges, the government has increased the minimum monthly wages of workers from 17,500 rupees to 25,000 rupees. The Prime Minister said the government has also embarked upon programmes of vocational training and skills development to enable workers to get their due share in job markets within and outside the country.

In his message on the World Labour Day, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said Pakistan’s prosperity is linked with the prosperity of workers. He said we will get representation for workers and farmers in the assemblies.

Former President Asif Ali Zardari said the PPP is a party of workers and it will continue to protect the rights of labourers.