ISLAMABAD - The Senate Standing Committee on Labour, Manpower and Overseas Pakistanis considered the Government Bill titled "The Industrial Relations Bill - 2008" introduced by Senator Mian Raza Rabbani, Leader of the House in the Senate, on behalf of Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah, Minister for Labour, Manpower and Overseas Pakistani on 8th August 2008. The members of the committee discussed the bill in a meeting, which was held at the Parliament House on Wednesday. Speaking on the occasion, Committee Chairman Senator Naeem Hussain Chattha said the Committees of the Parliament are non-partisan in nature and they always rise above the party divide in their working and upholding the national interests. He added that we desire a congenial atmosphere at our factories and industrial concerns and tension free management - labour relations to boost the industrial production. We are here to safeguard legitimate rights and interests of the workers, he added. The Minister for Labour and Manpower Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah assured that the amendments suggested by the Senate body in the proposed Bill would be carried out in the same spirit as both sides wanted welfare of workers. The Leader of the House in the Senate, Mian Raza Rabbani said that PPP holds workers in high esteem and has always worked for promoting their weal and welfare. He gave his note of dissent on the proposal to exclude the watch and ward, security and fire staff from the proposed Bill and denying them the right to form unions. Giving rationale of the new Bill, the Secretary Labour & Manpower said it is in conformity with the ILO Conventions. He informed the meeting that the new Bill also seeks to revive the Appellate Labour Tribunals as given in the original 1969 version. Some members of the Committee opined that by exempting the watch and ward, security and fire staff of the major industrial concerns, we are virtually 'de-unionizing' them and denying them the right to raise their voice against any injustice. The Minister for Labour said the watch and ward sections may be allowed to form unions and to take part in trade union activities but the security related and fire staff must be exempted given the present security environment prevailing in the country. The meeting was attended, among others, by Senators Fauzia Fakhur-uz-Zaman Khan, Muhammad Enver Baig, Sahibzada Khalid Jan and Syed Khursheed Ahmad Shah, Federal Minister for Labour & Manpower. The Leader of the House in the Senate Mian Raza Rabbani and Senator S.M Zafar attended the meeting on special invitation.