Women agri workers demand protection of labour rights, inclusion in social security programmes

SANGHAR, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 3rd May, 2026) More than 100 women agricultural workers from Sanghar district on Sunday demanded fair wages, safe working conditions, labour rights protection and inclusion in welfare and social security programmes, during a meaningful dialogue organized by the Sindh Community Foundation in connection with International Labour Day.

The discussion, held at a local hall in Tando Adam under the theme “Dignified employment begins with mental and physical safety,” brought together women farm workers, labour rights activists, growers, civil society representatives and officials from various government departments.

The event aimed to highlight the issues faced by women agricultural labourers and to stress effective measures for protecting their labour rights, health, dignity and employment opportunities. Representatives from the Social Welfare Department, Women Development Department, growers and various social organisations also participated.

Addressing the gathering, Javed Sooz Halai of the Sindh Community Foundation said that changing climate conditions and environmental challenges had made safe and dignified work opportunities essential for women agricultural workers. He said rising temperatures, heatwaves, floods and unsafe working environments were negatively affecting the health and livelihoods of women labourers.

He stressed the need to provide shaded workplaces, clean drinking water, mobile health services and reduced working hours during extreme heat conditions.

Additional Director Social Welfare Shafqat Solangi said women agricultural workers played a vital role in the rural economy, and improving their working conditions and ensuring their protection was a shared responsibility of both the government and society.

Labour rights activist Zubaida Turk appreciated the Sindh government’s move to issue rules of business under the Sindh Women Agricultural Workers Act 2019 and said effective implementation of the law was now necessary to ensure women workers received their rightful benefits.

Assistant Director of the Women Development Department Sajid Sadar said women farm workers often faced poverty and unemployment after the cotton-picking season, adding that the government had launched various programmes for sustainable employment, skills training and social protection for them.

Senior journalist and General Secretary of Tando Adam Press Club Ashiq Hussain Saand said agricultural workers were facing several basic issues and the media would continue to highlight their problems at every level.

Zubaida Solangi, a leader of the Sajagi Women Cotton Workers Trade Union, expressed serious concern over low wages, unsafe working conditions and the lack of access to labour welfare systems.

At the end of the event, participants demanded strict implementation of labour laws, fair wages, safe workplaces, protection from exploitation and the inclusion of women agricultural workers in welfare and social security systems. Bags containing protective items for cotton picking and summer fieldwork were also distributed among women workers to help them cope with extreme heat.