IN THIS POST
– Who Will Receive Mazdoor Card?
– Labour-Related Initiatives
In a bid to provide financial assistance as well as health and education facilities to the underprivileged labourers in the province, the Government of Sindh will finally start distributing Benazir Bhutto Mazdoor Cards to eligible workers this month. According to the reports published in the leading newspapers, Sindh Education and Labour Minister Saeed Ghani made this announcement during an event hosted by North Karachi Association of Trade in Karachi.
Addressing the ceremony, Ghani asserted the pilot programme was “first of its kind initiative by any province in the country for the welfare of the labourers” – just like the Benazir Income Support Programme that was launched back in 2008.
He further stated that the Benazir Bhutto Mazdoor Cards will serve multiple functions.
“The Benazir Bhutto Mazdoor Card will actually have the status of ATM Card, Health Card and Education Card of the workers, in the first phase of which this card will be issued to 630,000 workers across the province,” the minister explained.
Let’s take a look at what we know about the groundbreaking initiative so far.
Who Will Receive the Benazir Bhutto Mazdoor Card?
Though the eligibility criteria for the programme has not been announced as of yet, it has been reported that the cards will be issued in three stages.
In the first phase of the welfare programme, the Sindh government will reportedly distribute Benazir Bhutto Mazdoor Cards to around 630,000 labourers who are duly registered with the Sindh Employees Social Security Institution (SESSI)
In the second and third phases of the initiative, the Benazir Bhutto Mazdoor Card would be issued to every labourer in Sindh who works in a factory or industry or drives rickshaws, taxi or other public transport. The workers who are self-employed, such as pushcart vendors and road diggers, will also be eligible to receive these cards.
Other Labour-Related Initiatives Undertaken by the Sindh Government
The minister further said this welfare programme in Sindh will provide labourers with all the basic necessities of life at their doorstep.
He also explained that the provincial government has set up different committees that include both industrialists and employers as well as workers and labourers to effectively resolve the issues faced by the struggling blue-collar workers in Sindh.
Speaking at the event, Ghani also said a law would soon be passed in the province to establish an umbrella institution for the all labour-related institutions, such as Employees Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI), SESSI, and Workers’ Welfare Fund (WWF)
“Some of the laws adopted by the Sindh Labour Department were of a pioneering nature as they had not even been introduced by the labour agencies of many countries,” the minister added. “This development is expected to provide some relief for the workers, who have been facing numerous problems with getting their minimum wages and other rights.”
The Benazir Bhutto Mazdoor Card initiative first made headlines in September 2020 after the Government of Sindh and National Database & Registration Authority (NADRA) reached an agreement regarding the issuance of the cards.
The details about the registration and card distribution processes are expected to be announced later.
Please note that this blog will be updated with the latest information as soon as it is made public, so don’t forget to check back frequently.
Meanwhile, to learn more about the government’s financial assistance and welfare programmes, check out our detailed guides on Ehsaas Amdan Programme, Ehsaas Kafalat and Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programmes, and the Sehat Sahulat Programme.
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