20/11/2008
|
Industrial Relations Bill ‘08 in, IRO 2002 out
|
|
PPP government to institutionalise democracy: PM
ISLAMABAD: National Assembly on Wednesday passed the Industrial Relations Bill 2008 restoring Industrial Relations Law of 1969. With the passage of the Bill anti-labour IRO 2002 has been abolished automatically.
All political parties with the exception of PML-N championed the Bill. PML-Q and MQM also endorsed the passage.
Speaking in the House after approval of Industrial Relations Bill 2008, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani congratulated the nation over replacement of a draconian law with a labour-friendly legislation.
He said with the Bill's approval, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto's promise to poor labour class has been fulfilled. He said that abrogation of all murky laws enforced by the previous regime was part of PPP manifesto.
Prime Minister added that present government wants to start new traditions and on Tuesday a private member bill was also passed by the National Assembly unanimously.
He said that Senate had debated the bill for over a month and even PML-N legislators gave their input and supported its unanimous passage.
Minister for Inter-provincial Coordination Mian Raza Rabbani observed that IRO 2002 under the aegis of 17th amendment robbed the poor of labour rights. Rabbani said all political parties, labour unions and federations had opposed the imposition of IRO 2002 and demanded its annulment.
Referring to opposition to the approval by PML-N MNAs, he said its legislators in Senate have fully backed unanimous passage in Upper House. He rejected the impression that it was being bulldozed in the House. Rabbani also defended clubbing of the clauses of Bill.
Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Babar Awan said it was the right and mandate of House to wipeout anti-people laws of the marshal law. "Erasure of anti-masses laws was part of Charter of Democracy signed by the leaders of the PPP and the PML-N. "He thanked PML-Q for supporting government in doing away with this dark law.
Earlier Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani congratulated Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Babar Awan on the passage of Pakistan Institute of Parliamentary Services 2008 Bill.
The Prime Minister said the PPP government would institutionalise democracy in the country to ensure Parliament's supremacy. He was talking to Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Babar Awan, who called on him here at the PM House this afternoon. -Agencies
|
|