HYDERABAD: The rights of women working in cottage industry would also be protected through legislation, especially those associated with the bangle industry as a committee was working on it, said PPP Sindh General Secretary Taj Hyder.

The proposal would be tabled in the National Assembly once completed, he said during a seminar organised by the Bangle Welding Workers Union, Hyderabad region, at the press club here on Wednesday.

Mr Hyder said that as PPP represents labour and working class, it always understood their issues and the government would finally resolve the problems of home-based bangle workers.

The women associated with this industry have been demanding equal facilities as were being enjoyed by their male counterparts in factories, he said and added that a committee would soon table the matter for legislation in the assembly.

Adviser to Sindh Chief Minister Sharmeela Faroqoui said that the exploitation of womenfolk in cottage industry would soon be stopped through making amendments in labour laws. She deplored those paymasters who were paying merely Rs200 to the whole family working from their homes.

She called the practice a great injustice and ensured of providing them their due rights through legislation which would also warrant health and education facilities to their children.

These women would be covered under Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) and would be guaranteed disbursement of Zakat funds as these plans have rekindled hopes of better future by alleviating poverty from their ranks, she said adding that women-specific legislation was affected in the past but now media, government and people would have to play their role for making it a success. The government was considering giving the bangle-making an industry status soon.

President, Bangle Workers Union, Rehan Yusfuzai said that women in bangle making were neglected in the BISP and resolutions adopted in the seminar would be sent to all concerned departments.

Union’s General Secretary Yasmin Siddiqui said that workers wish women should also be fielded as candidates in local bodies’ elections.

Union’s Joint Secretary Nasreen Haneef condemned the practice of load-shedding as it was leading to starvation of workers because their wages are slashed by 50 per cent. “Our children don’t go to school because they work along with us. Part time schools should also be opened for them,” she said.

RESOLUTIONS: The participants of the seminar adopted various resolutions demanding facility of dowry fund, old age benefit and free medical treatment, residential accommodation in labour colony, part-time schools for workers’ children, raise in wages commensurate with price-hike, end to contract system and uniform wage structure for workers of Hyderabad and Mirpurkhas.

They also demanded provision of subsidised wheat for bangle workers and giving their workers BISP cover, fielding of women as candidates in LB elections, simplified CNIC procedure and workshops for Hyderabad and Mirpurkhas women and provision of equal facilities to cottage industry and factory workers.

They demanded dispensaries for women and interest free loans.

Later, Mr Hyder told journalists that bangle work by women is appreciated the world over as it signifies Pakistan’s culture but the conditions in which they work are deplorable as they not only get less wages but work under difficult conditions.