Vice President of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator Sherry Rehman has extended a heartfelt tribute to workers across Pakistan and the world on International Labour Day, lauding their tireless contributions to national progress and prosperity.
“On this Labour Day, I extend my deepest respect to the dedicated workers whose relentless efforts drive the wheels of progress and development in Pakistan and across the globe,” said Senator Rehman. “Our labour force is the backbone of our economy and the bedrock of our nation’s growth.”
Reaffirming the PPP’s historic and unwavering commitment to workers’ rights, Senator Rehman emphasized the foundational role her party has played in institutionalizing labour protections in Pakistan. “From its inception, the PPP has led the national discourse on workers’ welfare. Under the visionary leadership of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, Pakistan’s first comprehensive Labour Policy was introduced in February 1972, and labour rights were formally enshrined in the 1973 Constitution,” she noted.
She further underscored the PPP’s legacy of landmark reforms that transformed the labor landscape in Pakistan. “The establishment of the Employees’ Old Age Benefit Institution (EOBI) in 1976 was a pioneering step in social protection. Over the decades, the PPP has introduced numerous progressive laws and initiatives to safeguard the dignity and rights of workers,” she added.
Senator Rehman also pointed to the critical steps taken by the Sindh government under the PPP following the 18th Constitutional Amendment, including the introduction of the first Provincial Labour Policy in 2018. “This policy reaffirmed our commitment to decentralization and ensured provincial autonomy in implementing labour protections tailored to local realities,” she said.
“As pioneers of labour rights in Pakistan, the PPP remains resolute in its struggle to empower workers, ensure fair wages, decent working conditions, and expand access to social security,” she declared. “We honour the sweat and toil of our workers not just with words, but through action and policy.”
Senator Rehman concluded with a call for unity and continued advocacy: “On this Labour Day, let us all reaffirm our collective responsibility to protect and uplift the workers of Pakistan. A just, inclusive, and equitable society is only possible when the rights and dignity of its workers are respected and upheld.”