Ans(a) Labour reforms in Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto period:
Bhutto’s government announced the new labour policy on 10th February,
- The important points are as under:
i The representatives of the labourers were included in the administrative
committee which was responsible for running the affairs of the factory. Their
representation was 20% of the total strength which had the right to check I
the accounts and stores.
ii Annual bonus equal to one month’s salary was announced for labourers.
Special bonuses were also announced in case the production increased.
iii The working time of the labourers was changed. 48 working hours within a
week were regulated instead of 54 hours. They would be given extra
remuneration if they willingly worked overtime.
iv Every labourer would have the rights of old age pension, insurance and
gratuity. Medical facilities under the social security scheme would be given to
the labourers and it would be paid for by the owners.
Clity.
v Every labourer would be provided with residential and educat
Medical check-up would be mandatory. Free education up to matriculation of
at least one child was the responsibility of the factory.
vi An Industrial Relations Commission was set up for the settlement of the
disputes of the labourers through trade unions. Junior courts were set up in
this respect so that labourers could have the right to take their cases to the
labour court themselves.
vii A post of “Stewardship” was created who was responsible for settling
differences between the mill owners and the labourers.
viii Mill owners were made bound to give solid reasons before termination of a
labourer for job security purpose so that unfair terminations could be
avoided.
b Agricultural reforms in Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Shutto period.
Agriculture is the profession of a majority of population in Pakistan. To save
the farmers from exploitation, Bhutto’s government announced the following
agricultural reforms:
i The limit of land ownership, irrigated by canals was fixed up to 150 acres
and land irrigated by natural rains was up to 300 acres. The land beyond
these limits was confiscated and distributed among farmers and peasants.
By March 1976, 1.5 million acres of land was distributed to the farmers..
ii The land purchased by Govt. servants during their services or two years before
their retirement, was limited up to 100 acres. The surplus land, would be taken
over by the Govt. The army officers were exempted from this policy.
iii No one except for educational institutions was allowed to cross this limit of
land.
iv Only landlords would pay the land and water tax. The peasants would be
exempted from it.
v No extra land was allowed for livestock farms, stable and gardens.
vi All hunting grounds except those with the historical background were taken
over by the government.
vii The landlords were not allowed to evict the peasants one-sidedly. Only those
peasants could be evicted who did not give apportionments or violate the
viii. Fragmentation of land were combined under a new scheme named
consolidation of land.
ix Financial aid was given to Anjuman Imdad-e-Bahami to support mechanized
farming in Pakistan, and its services and work were recognized.
x For the purchase of agricultural machinery like tractors, loans were granted
to the farmers and landlords on easy installments.