Karachi: The Sindh Assembly on Thursday passed the Sindh Women Agriculture Workers Bill, 2019, according to a news report. As per the publication, the bill is aimed at granting due rights to women that are involved in agricultural or livestock activities in the province.
The rights afforded to women in the province include matters regarding their pay and minimum wages, the recognition of their labour, and the promotion and implementation of their due rights.
The Chairman of the Standing Committee Labour and Human Resources Shahid Thaheem presented the bill in the provincial assembly, after the original draft had been properly scrutinised and amended accordingly.
Then, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mukesh Chawla presented the bill (clause by clause) to the assembly, with Deputy Speaker Rehana Leghari as the chair. This bill was passed unanimously and consequently, shall be considered as law.
The bill aims to foster empowerment by recognising women’s work in the agriculture sector, including fishing, farming, and related activities. This will help make them part of the decision-making process as well.
Other stipulations of this bill include:
Women workers to receive pays equal to their male counterparts
Working day to not exceed eight hours. In addition, work shall not commence until one hour after daybreak or continue beyond one hour before sunset
Women workers will get sick leaves, as well as leaves for antenatal care, post-natal care, and routine check-ups
Women workers will be entitled to a maternity leave of up to 120 days
Mothers to get appropriate, hygienic facilities in order to breastfeed their children with dignity
Women to have full access to government facilities, aid, subsidies, and asset transfers in their own right
Women to be protected from harassment and abuse
Provincial labour and human rights departments to maintain register of women workers in all union councils
Registered women workers to be issued Benazir Women Agriculture Card
All the relevant departments (health, local government, population welfare, women development, and labour) have been asked to prepare a two-year plan to ensure the implementation and outreach of these rights.
