LAHORE: Punjab Labour Welfare Department Punjab Employees’ Social Security Institution (PESSI) would meet on monthly basis to resolve the issues of the business community.
This was decided at a meeting between the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Vice President Muhammad Nasir Hameed Khan, Director General Labour Welfare Department of Punjab M. Saleem Hussain and Commissioner Punjab Employees’ Social Security Institution Mansoor Qadir here at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Former LCCI Senior Vice President Tahir Javed Malik, Executive Committee Members Mian Zahid Javed, Mian Abdul Razzaq, Adnan Khalid Butt, Muhammad Arshad Chaudhry, Chairman Ferozepur Road Industrial Association (FRIA) Khawaja Shahzeb Akram and others spoke on the occasion.
DG Punjab Labour Welfare Department M. Saleem Hussain said that genuine reservations of the business community would be addressed on priority. He said that businessmen would be taken into confidence before conducting inspection. He said that monthly meeting would help trust building besides resolving the issues amicably.
Commissioner Punjab Employees’ Social Security Institution (PESSI) Mansoor Qadir said that contribution of the businessmen is being spent on the social welfare projects transparently. He said that department is building a hospital and soon the business community would be invited to visit the project. He said that PESSI would also share its recommendations and future plans with the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
The LCCI Vice President Muhammad Nasir Hameed Khan showed concern about the harassing attitude of labour officers. He said that their role is to help the business community in fulfilling the requirements of the labour laws. It is important that the labour department should develop SOPs for them.
He said that the labour officers visit organizations and issue legal notices without any prior intimation. We are of the view that these labour officers should be asked to prepare a report before issuing legal notices especially pinpointing the non-conformities. This is how check and balance can be maintained by the high-ups.
Muhammad Nasir Hameed Khan said that third party labour hiring is causing problems in many organizations. As per law, the organizations have to keep 20% of third party labors. It is an international practice to hire third party contractors but most of the times these contractors start creating problems for the employers by making unions which consequently result in undue litigation.
“We want that Labour Department should ensure consultation with private sector before making new laws or amending old laws. Another way is to create the awareness among the business community so that they become aware of their responsibilities and show more compliance towards these laws” the LCCI Vice President concluded.
Former LCCI Senior Vice President Tahir Javed Malik said that the LCCI has been advocating since long for one window facility to carry out different liabilities. The idea of establishing One-Portal can prove handy in this connection. For example, we have proposed that rather making PESSI contributions on every month, the private sector should be given option to pay it on quarterly or bi-annually basis. This will reduce frequency of payments.
These measures, if taken instantly can help in improving the Ease of Doing Business ranking of Pakistan. We simply want that there should be frequent interaction between public and private sectors to transform Pakistan.
“We keenly look forward to establishing close working relations with Directorate General of Labour and hope that our reservations and proposals will be considered favourably”, he concluded.
Adnan Khalid Butt invited the Commissioner Punjab Employees’ Social Security Institution (PESSI) to visit the Ferozepur Road Industrial area where almost no facilities are available for the labour force. In reply, Commissioner PESSI promised to visit the industrial area and also promised to provide an ambulance.
On the request of Chairman Ferozepur Road Industrial Association (FRIA) Khawaja Shahzeb Akam, DG Punjab Labour Department appointed a focal person.
