Former Chairman of the Senate and senior leader of the Pakistan People’s Party, Mian Raza Rabbani, addressed a gathering at the Karachi Press Club on Labor Day May 01, 2024, during a seminar titled “Ending the Economic Exploitation of Media Workers” held on the occasion of International Labor Day.
Mr. Rabbani criticized the state for colluding with media owners and the judiciary to exploit media workers, stating that while legal avenues for rights exist, workers find themselves caught in a cycle of court proceedings. He lamented the weakening of workers’ power under carefully orchestrated schemes, where labor unions arrive too late to make a difference.
Emphasizing the need for unity among journalists’ organizations, Rabbani suggested that resolving internal disputes through national dialogue could strengthen trade unions once more.
The seminar was attended by a significant number of journalists, including Saeed Sarbazi, President of the Karachi Press Club, and Shoaib Ahmed, Secretary of the Karachi Press Club, along with representatives from various other organizations.
Mr. Rabbani reminisced about the active role trade unions played in the past, noting the challenges they faced due to successive governments’ crackdowns. He highlighted the irony of journalists, who are supposed to represent society, being deprived of their fundamental rights.
He also pointed out that despite efforts to establish a coalition involving media owners and the judiciary, delays in resolving workers’ cases perpetuate injustice, contributing to the demise of the industry.
Mr. Rabbani urged journalists’ organizations to prioritize national dialogue, paving the way for a resurgence of trade unions. He criticized political parties for neglecting the revival and strengthening of trade unions, leading to a leadership crisis in the country.
In conclusion, Mr. Rabbani stressed the importance of revitalizing trade unions, asserting that all stakeholders, including those in power, fear their resurgence. He called for collective efforts to address the rights of journalists and workers, signaling a way forward for the labor movement in Pakistan.
The Karachi Press Club also presented a resolution during the seminar, which was unanimously adopted, reaffirming the commitment to address the economic exploitation of media workers.
The seminar shed light on the plight of media workers, urging concerted action to address their grievances and restore their rights in the face of systemic exploitation.
Recent Comments