Reverting to true-self (20112008)

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) had come into being as a party of the labor and students, the main support base was the Labor and Student Unions. However, soon after coming to power, the then founding chairman, managed to get rid of the original founders and the idealists behind the party, but nevertheless retained its "Red" color by being a strong platform for advocacy of labor rights in the country.
During 1970s, Pakistan saw the rise of strong Labor Unions which eventually led to collapse of most industries with strong union bodies. The reason was simple, the Unions and the Owners had different agenda, the Unions wanted maximum benefits for their members regardless of the fact that their demands were destroying the organisation they were working for, PIA is a relevant example even today. The owners, where it was the government let the corporations' rot and eventually privatised some with huge subsidies, while the private sector mostly let the industries go down-under because it had become unprofitable to keep them operational. During the era of General Ziaul Huq, the Martial Law Administrator succeeding Bhutto some check was introduced on the union activities and in subsequent regime of Nawaz Sharif, the labor laws were made less effective. But it was the General Musharraf who introduced Industrial Relations Ordinance 2002 to ensure that the process of privatisation and restructuring (read retrenchment of workers) of the state owned enterprises could move forward.
Now the new government of the Pakistan Peoples Party has abolished what is termed "anti-labour IRO 2002" and the National Assembly has passed the Industrial Relations Bill 2008, which has restored industrial relations law of 1969. With the exception of PML-N, all political parties supported the bill. This would be an interim law which would itself lapse on April 30, 2010, during this period a tripartite conference would be held and a new legislation would be done with the consultation of all stakeholders.
While no one can argue about the need for labor laws which ensure that the Employers show greater social responsibility but the method adopted by the Peoples Party leaves a lot to be desired. This also shows the priorities of the government are misplaced to say the least. At present the biggest crisis facing the country is that of collapse of the economy, slow down and may be even recessions which will inevitably lead to job losses. In such a situation the need is for bringing more investment in the country not to scare the new investors with new laws which may cause problems for the industries. The other major challenge is of war on terror, a war we don't seem to be winning, but the government is totally occupied with consolidating its power base, giving the impression that the party is not confident of surviving in power for any meaningful period. This attitude in itself is breeding uncertainty, causing the economic slide to worsen.
Furthermore, while it is desirable to have a good piece of pro-labor law in place but it is also essential that the legislation is investor friendly and is well thought out. What we have is an interim bill which will expire in 2010, given our track record this bill either will expire and leave a vacuum or will be renewed perpetually without fresh legislation being introduced. This bill has been tabled in haste and passed in a hurry, as claimed by the Opposition party, PMLN.
Actions like this belittle the democratic process and ultimately cause more harm than good. But now it has been tabled and passed, the Opposition led by PMLN should work with the Government to bring to the statue books a bill that can create a win-win situation for both the worker and the employers, furthermore, the bill should be debated at the Chamber of Commerce level to get effective input of the industrial organisations, before it is approved by the Law Ministry and presented to National Assembly. We all certainly want better work environment and compensation for workers but we do not need more hooliganism and corruption which labor unions have become known for.