In the backdrop of economic growth, development and revenue generation the state has been following the Neo-liberal principles like privatization. The process of privatization and corporatization of economy has paved the way for the gradual encroachment of multinationals and it has caused unemployment which is rising at an alarming late. The worker's rights as well as their livelihoods have been threatened by such policies. The global as well as national policies are designed to favor the rich and powerful: multinationals over national industry, big business over small investors and employer over worker.
In order to truly incorporate the policies based on the neo-liberal principles flawed labor laws are made and safety nets like social security benefits for the workers are virtually missing. Although, the macro-economic indicators have shown some improvement but, on the contrary, there has been worsening trends in the socio-economic indicators at micro level. Poverty and social injustice is showing ever rising trends despite states high claims of poverty reduction.
The status of industrial workers and peasants has been further weakened and among them the women workers is the most vulnerable group.
Henceforth, the thematic thrusts of the theme are:
Worker's Laws: The unjust labor laws such as IRO 2002 as well as finance bill 2006 have further added the already worst workers conditions. So campaigning against the unjust laws is one of the areas of focus.
Campaign against Privatization: The campaigning against privatization has been one of the successful strategic interventions of AAPk under the Worker's rights portfolio. Recently, a study was commissioned titled “politics of privatization”, it has been launched at provincial as well as at national level. The series of launch not only involved the local workers union, but it also generated effective dialogue against privatization and brought the political strings attached to the process of privatization to the surface.
In the launches recommendations were drafted by the workers for policy makers.
Bonded Labor: Another thematic thrust is lobbying with government, judiciary and other stake holders as well as the DAs against Bonded Labor, with more and more focus on Women bonded workers. In this regard AAPk received a grant of 3000 GBP from Troicare
Sexual Harassment: Another successful strategic intervention of AAPk has been Campaign against sexual harassment. The campaign is continued and lobbying with government and parliamentarians to adopt the code through policy or legislation. Moreover the new private as well as public sector organization will be targeted to incorporate the code.
Workers Rights and Just Governance: Worker's Rights are intimately linked with just governance. The conditionalities imposed by the IFIs, which include privatization are not only been worked at under the rights based governance but also focused area of work under the workers rights because of its worst implication on the workers. Moreover economic justice another thematic thrust of rights based governance is intimately linked with the workers rights portfolio as fair and just wages for the workers to fill the widening economic gap among the classes is one of the thematic focused areas of workers rights.
