Pakistan Labour Party condemns bill
Following is an abridged version of the text of a statement issued by the general secretary of Pakistan's Labour Party, Farooq Tariq, about the Pakistan government's Fifteenth Amendment Bill.
The Fifteenth Amendment Bill is a new attack on the unity of the working class in Pakistan.
The real aim of the bill is to divert the attention of the masses from the economic crises: the government is facing bankruptcy in September if it does not pay back loan installments that are due.
If the bill is passed, it will be another attack on the rights of minority nationalities, other minorities and workers. The proposed amendment is a direct threat to the functioning of the federation, and to the unity of the working class in all four provinces.
The amendment will be used to undermine the fundamental right of forming trade unions: many more government departments will be declared union-free areas and strikes can be declared un-Islamic. There will be no judicial recourse.
The new amendment will also greatly encourage the sectarian conflict, thus injecting a new division between workers.
The Labour Party warns all trade unions; industrial, public and service workers; and all peasants that this bill is a new plan by the ruling class to divide the working class, the people must oppose it. Workers' and peasants' organisations must take up the issue and organise demonstrations. The Labour Party is organising all of its forces to oppose the bill.