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<P class=MsoBodyText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"
align=left><SPAN style="POSITION: relative; mso-ignore: vglayout"><SPAN
style="LEFT: -24px; WIDTH: 686px; POSITION: absolute; TOP: -49px; HEIGHT: 83px"><IMG
height=83 alt="Workers Drive Against Increase in Working Hours"
src="cid:007801c6a4df$a0c560b0$0100007f@highstar" width=686
v:shapes="_x0000_s1026"></SPAN></SPAN><B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 22pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Bodoni Black'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Courier; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma"><FONT size=3>The
National Assembly of Pakistan made an objectionable amendments on June
21<SUP>st</SUP> in the Factories Act enhancing working hours from 8 to 10 for
women workers and 8 to 12 hours male workers without any debate, not only this
but the finance bill has illegally introduce amendments in the following laws.
Factories Act 1934, Shops and Establishment Ordinance 1969, Pakistan Industrial
& Commercial Employment Standing Order Ordinance 1968, Workers Welfare Fund
Ordinance 1971 and The Employees Old Age Benefit Act
1976.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Courier; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma"><FONT size=3>In the
Shops & Establishment Ordinance government has not increase the working
hours but the compulsory weekly holiday has been abolished. A new category of
the contract workers has been added to the Standing Order Ordinance. These
workers will not be entitled to compensate overtime. In addition, the ceiling of
working overtime has been raised from 150 hours to 624 hours a year for adult
and from 100 hours to 468 hours for Juveniles.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Courier
size=3>Knowing about these anti workers amendments in labor laws APTUF
immediately called its executive meeting in Lahore on 22 June 2006 and overall
discussed regarding anti workers amendment, the following program has been
chalked out: </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face=Courier> <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .75in"><FONT
face=Courier size=3>1.</FONT><SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN><FONT size=3><FONT face=Courier><B><I>Protest rallies</I></B> infront of
Lahore Press Club June 22, 2006 </FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .75in"><FONT
face=Courier size=3>2.</FONT><SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN><FONT size=3><FONT face=Courier><B><I>Write Protest Letters</I></B> to
government authorities</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .75in"><FONT
face=Courier size=3>3.</FONT><SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN><FONT face=Courier size=3>Publish <B><I>leaflets / stickers</I></B>
etc.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .75in"><FONT
face=Courier size=3>4.</FONT><SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN><FONT size=3><FONT face=Courier><B><I>Protest March</I></B> July 7, on
national level, in Lahore at Press Club.</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .75in"><FONT
face=Courier size=3>5.</FONT><SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN><FONT size=3><FONT face=Courier>Observe <B><I>Black Day</I></B> on July
13<SUP>th</SUP></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .75in"><FONT
face=Courier size=3>6.</FONT><SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN><FONT size=3><FONT face=Courier>Messages to all national and
international trade unions.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .75in"><FONT
face=Courier size=3>7.</FONT><SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN><FONT face=Courier size=3>July 20<SUP>th</SUP> One day <B><I>Hunger
Strike</I></B>.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face=Courier> <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma"><FONT size=3><FONT face=Courier>On June 22,
2006 APTUF demonstrated infornt of Lahore Press Club to oppose increase in
working hours of 12 hours and other anti labor
amendments.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Courier size=3>On
July 7<SUP>th</SUP> APTUF hold a Protest March against increase in working
hours, anti labor amendments and gas tariff. Thousands of workers including
women workers attended the rally, workers unfurling their banners, holding play
cards and shouting slogans. Heavy police contingent was there to stop the
marchers.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Courier"><FONT size=3> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Courier
size=3>Speaking on the occasion All Pakistan Trade Union Secretary General
Gulzar Ahmed Chaudhary, Rubina Jamil, Aima Mahmood, Shabbir Jamil and
Fazal-e-Wahid described that the present government had been giving a raw deal
to wage-earners since its take over.” To begin with, it imposed restrictions on
their union rights under the Industrial Relation Ordinance and legalized summary
dismissal of government employees by promulgating the Removal Service Ordinance
in 2002, they emphasized how the workers needed greater clarity, discipline and
organization in order to overcome the forces capitalism in
Pakistan. Speakers boldly stated that only a growing working class movement
could address the exploitation and oppression of the people and especially
women, this demonstration was merely a preview of things to come, the
workers movement would grow and boldly fight against the capitalist, imperialist
tyranny and establish a workers republic, the workers of Pakistan will continue
to </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"
align=left><FONT face=Courier size=3>stage protest, <BR
style="mso-special-character: line-break"><BR
style="mso-special-character: line-break"></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face=Courier>It was announced that APTUF decided to launch nation wide campaign
and our demands are to make the law with the conformity of ILO Conventions and
its implementation.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face=Courier> <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Courier size=3>It
was announced that on July 13<SUP>th</SUP>, APTUF will Observe <B><I>Black Day
</I></B>through out the country<B><I>,</I></B> wear black bands on arms, put up
black flags on office, factory gates, hold gate meetings.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><BR><FONT face=Courier
size=3>We request to all our comrades/friends/people to join this campaign to
strengthen the workers unity. <BR style="mso-special-character: line-break"><BR
style="mso-special-character: line-break"></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Courier"><FONT size=3> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<H1 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Courier size=3>Your
fraternally</FONT></H1>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Courier"><FONT
size=3> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Courier"><FONT
size=3> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><B><SPAN
style="BACKGROUND: yellow; FONT-FAMILY: Courier">Nasir
Chaudhary</SPAN></B><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Courier"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Courier"><FONT size=3>Secretary<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Courier"><FONT size=3>International
Affairs</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Courier"><FONT size=3>Email: <A
href="mailto:rubinawwo@nexlinx.net.pk">rubinawwo@nexlinx.net.pk</A></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Courier"><FONT size=3>
<A href="mailto:aptuf@brain.net.pk">aptuf@brain.net.pk</A></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Courier"></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Courier"><FONT size=3> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT
size=3><SPAN style="BACKGROUND: #d9d9d9; FONT-FAMILY: Courier">PS. PWC meeting
held on 10<SUP>th</SUP> and it was decided that on 20<SUP>th</SUP> of July hold
Protest March. And in the end of July decided to hold Governing Body meeting of
PWC. Further program of protest will chalk out</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Courier"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Courier"><FONT
size=3> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>