Orientation on HBWs held with Member Parliamentarians of Sindh

8 Oct 2013 Karachi: Sindh government is committed to approve the Home based workers policy for Sindh. It was stated by Minister for Women development and social welfare Ms Rubina Qaimkhani here in Provincial metropolis.  Addressing the Orientation meeting with member Parliamentarians on Home based workers Policy processes and legislation organized by Home Net Pakistan.

The orientation meeting was organized in collaboration with Sindh Department of Labour and Manpower and HomeNet Pakistan. The objective of the meeting was to sensitize the member parliamentarians on the issue of home based workers in Sindh . Addressing the house Executive Director Home Net Pakistan Ume Laila said that Department of Labour has very diligently finalized the HBWs policy for Sindh involving all the relevant stakeholders. She appreciated the role of Labour department in taking up the issue of HBWs seriously and finalizing the policy framework  for workers. She informed that the HBWs policy has been send to the Chief minister Sindh for approval . She further urged the house to follow up on the approval of the HBWs policy for Sindh and develop a mechanism for the registration of HBWs .

Mr Gulfam Nabi Additional Director Labor highlighted the main clauses of the Provincial Policy. He further added that the policy if approved would provide protection and promotion to HBWs across province. Ms Nuzhat Shirin , Regional Coordinator , Home Net Pakistan shared that  in order to ensure the effective implementation of the HBWs  , District Action Committees(DACs) have been set up in five main districts of Sindh .The District Action Committees shall provide facilitation to HBWs at the district level in terms of  mobilization of HBWs for registration , sensitizer and linkages developments with various line departments .

Addressing the house Minster for Women development and social welfare Ms Rubina Qaimkhani said that it is the need of the hour that 

 should be recognized as workers. They are the back bone of the economy and need to be strengthened. Further she assured full support of the government of Sindh. She also assured the house that she will take up the HBWs policy within the cabinet for approval. She presented a resolution for the effective and speedy implementation of HBWs policy and legislation before the house and there was consensus on the presentation of Resolution in Assembly in the upcoming session. Member Parliamentarians representing MQM, PPP assured full support and commitment on HBWs policy and resolution. Irum Azeem Farooqi, Naila Munir , Nusrat sultana , Shamim Mumtaz, Farida Jamot, Shahina, Rehana Laghari ,  Sumeta Syed, Mohmmad Abdul Razak  spoke on the occasion .Ms Mehnaz Rehman of Aurat foundation presented  the over view of the situation of HBWs in Sindh  she said that women home based workers needs help and it is important that we look into seriously. Ms Farhat Parveen of NOWC and Ms  Musarrat Jabeen Deputy Secretary WDD also spoke on the occasion and urged that it is need of the day that we move forward to recognize home based women workers as worker. The Member Parliamentarians unanimously approved the resolution for home based workers and recommended Sindh Provincial Government to further solicit it to federal government to bring all home based workers under it and provide legal, economic and social protection by ratifying the ILO convention C177 in order to ensure the complete provision of benefits of Sindh Home Based Workers Policy 2013 thus recognizing the rights and importance of HBWs in the economy and labour market. And to make effective laws/ legislation extending protection, promotion and encouraging home based workers across province.