Islamabad : Special Assistant Dr. Sania Nishtar presided over the 11th meeting of the Labor Expert Group today under the auspices of Labor. This was the group’s eleventh consultative meeting in 13 months, the statement said . Discussions were held on the recommendations written by the Labor Expert Group on Social Welfare and Social Security for Workers in the Informal Sector. Under the umbrella of Ehsas, the Labor Expert Group was formed by the Prime Minister on the occasion of May Day last year, the statement said.

The purpose of the group was to formulate recommendations to address the income, health and social security issues of informal sector workers, the statement said. In the light of which the government should take practical steps to be included in the mainstream of inclusive sectors, the statement said. Labor Expert Group completes consultation and writing process on recommendations for informal sector workers, statement says. The Labor Expert Group report is in the final stages of preparation and will be released later this week, the statement said. For the first time in the country’s history, the government has brought together working class experts and government representatives in a neutral group, the statement said. The report focuses on setting minimum wages for workers and day laborers and enabling informal workers to access the facilities of labor-friendly social security institutions in the labor sector, the statement said. In this regard, data of informal sector workers from all over the country will also be collected in the spirit of labor, the statement said. Based on the research materials recommended by the group’s experts and all provincial and regional labor organizations, we were able to provide financial assistance to our day laborers through Ehsas Emergency Cash and expand the scope of Ehsas Emergency Cash in the light of ground realities.

The Labor Expert Group includes Social Security and Poverty Reduction Division, Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis, Planning Commission, all Provincial Labor Departments, Pakistan Workers Federation, ILO and researchers, university professors, labor leaders and representatives of other relevant fields. Declaration The services of all the group members are commendable as they have accomplished a very difficult task for the welfare and development of the informal sector workers, the statement said.