Cyclothon organized to promote labor rights of working women in Pakistan

 Islamabad

 Women Cyclothon, 2022 title Puri Ujrat Mera Haq to raise demand for labor rights of the working women was held in Islamabad on Thursday.

Over a hundred women and girls participated in the event, ranging from students to seasoned professionals, from civil society, media, academia, girl guides association, scouts, transgender community and persons with special needs.

The event was organized by the Sustainable Social Development Organization (SSDO) in collaboration with the Women Workers Alliance (WWA), Trust for Democratic Education & Accountability (TDEA) and along with the National Press Club and Maqam International.

 The participants first gathered outside National press club Islamabad, where Islamabad Commissioner Hamza Shafqaat spoke to the participants.

The Islamabad DC stated that it is a wonderful initiative to promote women empowerment and that the government is dedicated to protecting the rights of working women. He stated that in Islamabad, the government will set up committees to monitor the conduciveness of working environments for women.

Members of the WWA read out their ‘Charter of Demands’ to the attendees of the event, as well as the media to ensure greater reach of their mandate. It is a group of women workers from 14 districts of Pakistan with provincial coalitions and provincial bodies.

Mussarat Jabeen, an alliance member stated that keeping in context the higher cost of living, particularly in urban areas, as well as rapidly rising inflation, the minimum wage must be reevaluated and recalculated to reflect the current economic scenario.

The aim is to ensure a minimum wage that is livable and ensures a decent lifestyle that covers at least all basic necessities.

 Mehar Nigar, a member of the alliance and an educationist, discussed that the quotas for women in different governmental bodies and employment in departments is much lower than their actual percentage in the population which is 48 percent.

The women cyclothon

The riders started their journey from the National Press Club in F-6, and went all the way to SuperMarket. More than 50 women rode bikes while even dozens others walked along with the procession holding placards and banners that advocated for safer working environments for women, increase in minimum wage and ending the gender wage gap.

Executive Director SSDO Syed Kausar Abbas said “Many women workers find themselves being exploited in the labour market due to a lack of proper implementation of labour laws.

They are being both underpaid and overworked, without proper protection mechanisms. Therefore, we need to advocate for the government to ensure proper implementation of laws that promote conducive working environments for women and stronger monitoring mechanisms. The women workers who came out to this event to raise their voice for their rights are true heroes.”