NIRC to hold seminar to boost employer-employee relations

ISLAMABAD: Chairman of the National Industrial Relations Commission (NIRC) Justice (retd) Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui on Thursday announced a seminar in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) scheduled for May 1 in the federal capital.

The seminar aims to address and propose solutions to the challenges hindering the relationship between employers and employees.

Speaking to reporters along with other members of the Commission, Siddiqui highlighted that out of 70 million workers in the country, a mere 14% qualify as regular workers.

"We will try to bring employees of other sectors, who are deprived of legal protection, including private bike riders, under the definition of regular workers," he said.

He emphasised that the primary goal of the NIRC is to facilitate the resolution of disputes between employees and employers,

After the restoration of public confidence, the number of cases filed in NIRC had increased, he told the media. The number of pending cases had also decreased significantly with the start of hearings through video link, he added.

"In future, a plan is also being made for e-filing. Its proforma will be released on the website," he informed.

He remarked that if NIRC performance improved, the reservations and concerns of the European Union (EU) regarding Pakistan would be removed.

He said judges of the Supreme Court and Lahore High Court, the Attorney General and federal ministers will address the seminar. 

All employers, including media, telecom and hotel industries, have been invited to participate in the seminar, including Mir Ibrahim Rahman of Jang Group and Shakeel Masood of Dawn Group.