Unions of homebased and selfemployed workers from Sindh organized a peaceful protest in front of the SESSI head office. Women from various unions participated in the demonstration, demanding the issuance of social security cards.
The protest sought the support of the HomeBased Women Workers Federation and the National Trade Union Federation. Saira Feroz, President of the HomeBased Women Workers Federation, and representatives from the National Trade Union Federation also attended.
Parveen Bano from the HomeBased Bangle Women Workers Union addressed the protest, highlighting that although SESSI introduced a portal for workers’ registration, social security cards have not been issued.
Aqsa Kanwal stated that despite a particular party’s longstanding governance in Sindh, female workers remain deprived of social security cards. Mehrunisa Malik and Aini Younus also spoke at the protest.
Saira Feroz assured the protesters that if social security cards were not issued, the next protest would be held in front of the Chief Minister’s House.
Federation officials expressed hope that the protest would have positive effects and that the SESSI governing body would address the issue.
Mukhtar Hussain Awan, a member of the governing body, assured participants of all possible support.
Labour Minister Islamuddin Sheikh, who is also the Chairman of the SESSI governing body, listened to the participants’ demands. SESSI Commissioner Mian Dad Rahujo assured the issuance of the cards on the condition of monthly contribution collection from the workers, despite no such clause existing in the Social Security Act.