Ordering the payment of death and marriage grants worth Rs 6 million to laborers, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has noted that the amount for 29,000 workers had not been by the previous government. Chairing a meeting on the performance of the labour department, she also announced that 1,224 flats would be given to workers free of charge in the Taxila and Sunder labour colonies. She also directed the authorities to build two hostels for women workers in the Garmant City.
“Free accommodation will be provided to 704 women workers in Sheikhupura,” she added.
The chief minister also reviewed a scholarship programme and health facility projects for workers and health facility projects for workers, besides reforms in the department , occupational safety and their implementation of minimum wage law. She said,” The Punjab government has set a minimum wage of Rs 37,000 per month in the current budget. It is our responsibility to protect the rights of every worker of Punjab.” She instructed the department to immediately take stakeholders into confidence to implement the minimumwage. She added, “It is painful that every worker is not getting full wages.“
The chief minister also termed regrettable the lack of enforcement of the labour laws on domestic workers. She called for ensuring the implementation of safety gear for sanitary staff while cleaning drains and manholes.
Meanwhile, Member of Provincial Assembly Adnan Afzal Charha called on the chief minister and discussed issues related to innovation in technical education. The CM said the number of prospective trainees under the skills development programme would be increased from 4000 to 40,000. She said the skills development training was free and market-driven courses would be added. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz also invited position holder students of the Lahore Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education and distributed trophies, certificates, and prizes among them.
The CM awarded cheques worth Rs.300,000 each to the students getting the first position, Rs. 200,000 to second position holders Rs.100,000 for third position. She announced payment of the fees of the position holders for higher education. The students awarded on the occasion were Muhammad Kashif Moeez Haider, Ubaid Ullah Usman, Maheen Sajjad, Ubera Asghar, Zainab Asif, Sehar Shakeel, Laiba, Gulam Humayun Din, Ehteshamul Haq, Muhammad Farhan, hifsa, Maira Khurram. In another development, the chief minister held a video link meeting with a British educationist, Sir Micheal Barber, to discuss reforms in the fields of education, health, air quality, solid waste management, and revenue mobilization. The British expert presented a review of administrative and logistical measures of the implementation of new education policies. He also gave suggestions for teacher training and the use of technology in classrooms to provide modern education.
News published in the Express Tribune on 11th July 2024