Latest news with #AbdullahDayo
Express Tribune
25-07-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Dialogue addresses pressing labour issues
The Sindh Human Rights Commission (SHRC) in collaboration with the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES) convened civil dialogue to address pressing labour issues and advocate for the implementation of Business and Human Rights (BHR) principles in line with international standards. In his address, SHRC Chairperson Iqbal Detho underscored the commission's statutory role in safeguarding human rights across Sindh. He stressed the urgent need to integrate BHR frameworks into provincial policies, saying that "robust legal structures and effective institutional coordination at the district level are essential to protect marginalised and vulnerable workers." Stakeholders, including labour union leaders, civil society activists, local officials, and representatives of the media, participated in the dialogue. They highlighted challenges confronting the local workforce, particularly in Sanghar, a district known for its cotton production and energy resources. Key concerns included meagre wages, hazardous working conditions, and a lack of social security for women employed in agricultural and domestic work. Speaking on behalf of FES, Abdullah Dayo stressed the importance of promoting responsible business practices and formalising employment relationships. "Ensuring minimum wage compliance, EOBI registration, and third-party monitoring are critical steps toward preserving the dignity of workers in districts like Sanghar," he said. Sanghar Deputy Commissioner Sarah Javed reaffirmed the district administration's commitment to a rights-based approach to development. SSP Abid Hussain also lauded SHRC's efforts and highlighted the need for urgent attention to broader human rights concerns such as forced conversions and child marriage. Labour leaders from Sinjhoro drew attention to stagnant wages, the denial of inflation-adjusted bonuses, and the absence of basic healthcare facilities for workers.
Express Tribune
02-06-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Home-based women workers' rights ignored
Although the Sindh government has legislated a law to grant and protect rights of the women home based workers, a lack of implementation on the law continues to deny rights to these workers. A consultation meeting , organized in Sukkur by the Sindh Human Rights Commission (SHRC) and Bhittai Social Watch and Advocacy (BSWA) on Saturday night, shed light over the issue, identifying bottlenecks and suggesting solutions. The Sindh Home-Based Workers Act was legislated in 2018 to safeguard rights of the home based workers. Tens of thousands of women work in the province in the informal sectors like creating embroidery, crafting multi-coloured tapestry quilts called rilli in Sindhi language, date leaves and wheat straw, besides a range of other items. "The Act is a pioneering law in South Asia," observed Abdullah Dayo, Program Advisor at Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES). "We must now focus on implementing its rules to transform legal recognition into the real-world protections for women workers." Additional Inspector General of Police Gender and Human Rights Shahla Qureshi acknowledged the law's significance, underlining the need to integrate gender protection, coordination with anti-GBV services and proactive roles by police in facilitating survivors' access to support services without procedural delays. SSP informed about the role of Anti-Rape Crisis Cells (ARCCs) and the Gender Desks in assisting women workers. She encouraged greater coordination between police, SHRC, and CSOs for survivor-centered responses.
