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Pak textile bodies demand audit of EOBI, labour funds
01 Mar '12
2 min read
Voicing concerns over inappropriate use of Employees' Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI), Social Security and Labour funds for activities other than those meant for welfare of workers, and investment of the same in unessential and non-lucrative areas, textile associations in Pakistan have demanded a transparent third-party audit of these funds.
The demand was made at a joint meeting of Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers Association, All Pakistan Cotton Power Looms Association, Pakistan Textile Exporters Association, All Pakistan Bedsheet and Upholstery Manufacturers Association, Council of Loom Owners, Pakistan Embroidery Association and Small Power Loom Association.
Mr. Rana Arif Tauseef, who presided as Chairman at the meeting, said making provision for pension, health care, education, monitory and other supplementary benefits and facilities for the industrial workers engaged in the private sectors is the main aim behind institution of EOBI, Social Security and Labour departments.
Each month, these departments collect over PK Rs. 70 million from factory owners in Faisalabad, but these sums were not being used for welfare of workers in the region. Moreover, the Government has not made any contribution to the fund, Mr. Rana said.
Instead, these sums have been utilised by the Government for political purposes, depriving the workers of benefits like old age pension, health and education facilities, he added.
He said that no economy can ever flourish without just and equitable treatment of its human resource, especially as the industrial workforce plays a vital part in a country's economic growth.
Workers in developed countries enjoy all the facilities quite naturally, but no steps were being taken for the welfare of the workers in Pakistan, Mr. Rana said and added that in spite of accumulation of billions of rupees in funds for them, the workers in the country do not enjoy any significant benefits.
Entrepreneurs and industrialists also condemned the fact that they lack proper representation on the board of trustees of these departments.
The demand was made at a joint meeting of Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers Association, All Pakistan Cotton Power Looms Association, Pakistan Textile Exporters Association, All Pakistan Bedsheet and Upholstery Manufacturers Association, Council of Loom Owners, Pakistan Embroidery Association and Small Power Loom Association.
Mr. Rana Arif Tauseef, who presided as Chairman at the meeting, said making provision for pension, health care, education, monitory and other supplementary benefits and facilities for the industrial workers engaged in the private sectors is the main aim behind institution of EOBI, Social Security and Labour departments.
Each month, these departments collect over PK Rs. 70 million from factory owners in Faisalabad, but these sums were not being used for welfare of workers in the region. Moreover, the Government has not made any contribution to the fund, Mr. Rana said.
Instead, these sums have been utilised by the Government for political purposes, depriving the workers of benefits like old age pension, health and education facilities, he added.
He said that no economy can ever flourish without just and equitable treatment of its human resource, especially as the industrial workforce plays a vital part in a country's economic growth.
Workers in developed countries enjoy all the facilities quite naturally, but no steps were being taken for the welfare of the workers in Pakistan, Mr. Rana said and added that in spite of accumulation of billions of rupees in funds for them, the workers in the country do not enjoy any significant benefits.
Entrepreneurs and industrialists also condemned the fact that they lack proper representation on the board of trustees of these departments.
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