Speaking on a point of order in the Senate here on Friday, Senator Raza Rabbani said that Prime Minister Gilani had announced a new labour policy in accordance with the PPP manifesto to end support to workers, under which 12.5 percent shares were allocated for the employees of government/autonomous institutions.
He revealed that this policy was implemented in all institutions except for banks. The SBP stopped banks from implementing this order, he claimed. Banking cartels are openly challenging the government writ and SBP Governor is defending these cartels, alleged Rabbani. According to him, the SBP is protecting cartelization in monetary institutions by opposing repeal of section 27-B of the Banking Companies Ordinance.
He said the SBP had opposed a private member bill demanding that 25 per cent strength in trade unions be from outside the institutions, which is in accordance with Industrial Relations Act (IRA). It has used influence and bulldozed it even after approval from the select committee.
Rabbani alleged that some members of the Senate Standing Committee on Finance had vested interests with banking companies, which was why the committee had opposed the repeal of the said section which related to permission of union activities in banks. He said the Government had assured support to the amendment and he also had discussions with Finance Minister, but Governor State Bank opposed it in the committee meeting "under pressure from the banks". He said that he requested the chairman of the committee to defer the issue for 24 hours prior to the committee meeting, but the chairman refused to oblige him.
However, Parliamentary Leader of Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) Senator Ishaq Dar raised the point that Raza Rabbani was "pre-emptively trying" to influence the report of the committee as it had not been laid before the house so far. Dar asked Rabbani to follow the rules of business of the House and comment on the issue at the time of the presentation of the report in the house of the committee on Finance. Both Rabbani and Dar exchanged harsh words. Later Rabbani came to Dar's desk and sought an apology from him.
Chairman Senate Farooq H Naek sought opinion from the government on the issue and Federal Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan said that government was determined to safeguard the rights of labourers. The Minister assured the house that the government would take up the issue and would not allow any cartel, however strong, to deprive workers of their rights. "The Government would not surrender to cartels in the country in any sector and would ensure provision of 12.5 per cent share to employees in public sector organisations," Baber said.
Awan, with reference to of section 27-B of the Banking Companies Ordinance, assured that the government would ensure the repeal of said section as well as other black laws and would not tolerate any hurdle in the way of provision of labourers rights. Chairman of the Senate, Farooq H Naek prorogued the House. Earlier, it deferred the Pakistan Institute of Development Economists Bill 2010.