ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Friday that the spread of coronavirus had created significant hardships for the working class of the country, adding that the pandemic had led to the closure of factories and workplaces and resulted in a major economic slowdown.
In his Labor Day message, Khan noted that the government was doing its best to improve the living and working conditions of laborers by introducing better housing and education facilities. He said that his administration also wanted to provide them adequate health cover.
“The workers’ role is pivotal for economic development of any country,” said the prime minister, “and our government is committed to ensuring that benefits of economic progress translate into prosperity for all sections of the population.”
He added that Islam emphasized principles of social justice and respect for the rights of people.
The prime minister, who remained critical of the idea of a complete lockdown from the beginning of the crisis, blamed the country’s elite on Thursday for trying to shut down everything without thinking of the underprivileged segments of society. He reiterated that any lockdown restrictions must be accompanied by measures that prevent the poor from going hungry.
“Keeping in view the requirements of the labor market, the government has embarked on programs of vocational training and skills development to enable workers to get their due share in job markets within and outside the country,” his message continued, adding that the government wanted “to develop automated, integrated systems for workers’ welfare institutions to ensure transparency and curtail delays in providing relief to them.”
