Faisalabad is the textile hub of the Country with more than 80.05% of the total employment and 40,322 millions of investment. According to the workers movement in Faisalabad, there are more than 12,000 power loom units in the city with more than 300,000 workers. Pakistan Textile Workers’ Association and Labor Qaumi Movement (Labor National Movement) are working for the protection and promotion of the rights of the workers in textile industry. The project focuses on two components in collaboration with the Labor Qoumi Movement:

1. Education of the textile industry leaders and workers on labor laws and trade unions.
2. Organization of the textile industry workers to exercise their rights of forming union ensured in the law.

The project involves 1,800 workers and 210 workers leaders in the local units and at city level regarding their increased understanding on organizing the workers and knowledge of the labor laws along with advocacy and mass awareness on the issue of the workers.

1. Conducted Training Sessions with the Labor Workers & Labor Leaders:
 
The total 37 training sessions were conducted with the labor workers. About 1,780 to 1800 labor workers participated in these training sessions.

The main contents of the training were:

1. History of the labor movements (global, national and local)
2. History of the trade union and labor movement in Pakistan and especially in Faisalabad
3. Labor laws in Pakistan (simplified)
4. Developments in labor laws in different periods of governments
5. Importance of trade unions in workers’ rights movements and demands of the workers
6. Basic concepts of human rights (women, workers, children and minorities)

 

The 14 training sessions were also conducted with the labor leaders during this reporting period.  The duration of each session was about three hours. The labor leaders were educated on the following:

• Basic concept of Human Rights (UDHR), (women, children, workers and minorities)
• Role of trade union and labor leaders on the issues and demands of the workers
• Mobilization of the workers for the trade union cause with the increases participation of women workers in trade union’s activities
• Mainstreaming the trade union activities with the overall national democratic movement.

3. FM Radio Programs:

A total 3 FM Radio Programs were held during this reporting period. There was one labor worker, one labor leader and one owner participated in each program. The live discussion and debate was made among these participants in the programs. The workers problems, their rights, and suggestions about the solution of problems were discussed in the FM Radio Programs. The listeners also made telephone calls during the program. The programs were transmitted in local language URDU & PUNJABI. The duration of each program was about 30 minutes. 

4. Theatre Shows:

The interactive theatre is the presentation of the performance labor workers and workers leaders. The purpose of these theatre shows was to highlight the issues and condition of the workers in the textile industry, role of trade union in the workers’ rights struggle, the women workers rights and their problems at workplace like sexual harassment, low wages, no fix working hours, health and hygiene etc. JHROKA Theatre, presented these performances among the workers and leaders. At the end of theatre, a problem is highlighted among the participants and solution was asked by the participants. The interactive theatre is one of the best tools to highlight the issues among the people.

OUTCOMES:

• The workers got education about their working rights.
• The awareness level increased among the workers and especially among the women workers about women rights and working rights at workplace.
• The FM Radio Programs also highlighted the issues and problems of workers among the general public and in the civil society and their level of awareness increased.
• The interactive theatre team played very impressive role and highlighted the issues and rights of workers among them. These workers are now well aware about their rights and the importance of labor union and its function.
• The rally and workers’ convention also highlighted the workers condition, their problems and their working rights among the general public, media, owners and Government. The other workers community and workers movement motivated from the rally and convention.
• The confidence level increased among the labor workers and now they present their problems in front of owners.
• The groups of labor workers are now organized and they gathered when any need or problem arises. 
• In the year 2009, new 4800 labor workers became members of labor unions with the motivation of LQM and HF labor education trainings, meetings and theatre performances.
• The MAAVZA (remuneration) commissioner finalized the pending cases of 20 – 25 workers and they got remuneration from their owners. These cases were presented and supported by LQM and HF in the labor court.  
• Five new Labor Unions are now registered in the year 2009. These unions are in the Crescent Sugar Mills, Kamal Textile, Riaz Sadique Weaving, Nasir Sizing Industries and Bilal Weaving.
• The first time in 2009, female textile workers were taken in the labor unions by the LQM. The HF training sessions and theatre presentation convinced labor leaders and labor workers for the participation of female labor workers and leaders.